Night-time uphill drive to BukAk Skyway - 북악스카이웨이 심야 업힐 드라이브

After a grumpy Sunday, just went for a drive with my family.

I believe I am a quite decent driver.

It's been about 1 and a half year since I got my license and no serious accident till now.

Except the one which I scratched a car parked next to mine.

Night drive can be quite dangerous as everyone tends to drive faster than the usual

ignoring the speed limits.

But the best part is that there is no traffic jam or whatsoever kind.

We departed around at 10 pm and most of the cars we encountered were

Taxis.

Like the usual, I set my course using the navigation app called

KakaoNavi(카카오네비).

Under the ownership of the Kakao Group.

Actually the popular app was created by a non-enterprise developer but after gathering so much of users, they became a part of Kakao family.

(Originally it was called "김기사" which translates into "Mr Driver Kim")

At 10 pm, where would we go?

A night view of Seoul city? Sounds good.

Our destination was BukAk Skyway (북악 스카이웨이).

Website:

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1939656

It is a uphill driveway to the top of mountain called BukAk-San(북악산).

Interesting course for drivers and riders for a drive experience like Initial.D.

At the top you will find an Octagonal Pavilion called Palgakjung(팔각정).

You get almost a 360 view of Seoul city (yes I said almost) once you climb the stairs to the observatory.

Well. To be honest, the night view of Seoul city is just so-so.

Not that great spectacular scenery and the air is terrible. Foggy due to the weather or the pollution I couldn't tell.

But the air is fresh from the mountain forest and you get good sensation of healing in your lungs.

Apart from the pavilion, there isn't anything to see.

There is a restaurant and some desert place but not worth the price.

We had some chilling moments for about an hour and got back to our car.

THEN SURPRISEEEEEE.

We ended up a getting a parking ticket. Nooooooo...

There was a parking lot right below the pavilion park but it was a paid one.

I mean it was a Sunday after all and it was 11 pm.

I didn't expect anyone to bust us for illegal parking...

We came home with a 40,000 won parking ticket. Yeahhhh....

For those who are going for a drive to BukAk Skyway,

DO NOT PARK IN FRONT OF THE ENTRANCE OR THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAYS.

YOU WILL GET FINED FOR SURE.

YES. EVEN AT 11 PM ON A SUNDAY.

This is my second time getting a parking ticket.

I have learned a lesson.

"Never break the law."

ON HOW TO GET UP THE SKYWAY.

I don't think there is a public transportation during the night and you definitely need a car or a bike or a cycle to go up there.

During the day there is a bus which goes up there as mentioned in the Korean Tourism website

From visitkorea.co.kr:

[Bus]
Gyeongbokgung Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 3.
- Take Bus 0212, 1030 or 7022 and get off at Jahamun Gate (Changuimun Gate) Bus Stop. 
- Walk toward the trail head of the path to Bugaksan Mountain.
- Take this trail and walk for about 3 km to the pavilion. 

Or, take a taxi from Gyeongbokgung Station (about 20min / 6km).

For your information purposes,

BukAkSan mountain(북악산) is the one which you can see from Gyeongbokgung Palace(경복궁).

The tall one behind the palace.

It is the one right behind the Blue House(청와대).

Historical fact:

There was a spy from North Korea who tried to attack the Blue House by attempting a downhill from BukAkSan. The whole area is guarded by the police and the army.