Kenneth E. Harker
2008 Korea - N Seoul Tower

After visiting the National Museum of Korea, we took the subway and a bus over to see N Seoul Tower. N Seoul Tower is a communications tower on top of Namsan Mountain in central Seoul. Namsan Mountain is slightly under 800 feet (262 m) above sea level, and the tower is another 777 feet (237 m) high. The top of the tower supports television and radio antennas. A multi-story observation deck partway up the tower included a snack shop, gift shops, and a full service Korean restaurant. Called both Seoul Tower and Namsan Tower in the past, the current ownership group uses the name N Seoul Tower.

These photos are copyright © 2008 Kenneth E. Harker. All rights reserved.

	N Seoul Tower, as seen from the National Museum of Korea. In addition to the main tower, there is a secondary communications tower near the summit of the mountain as well. The National Museum was only 3 km (1.8 mi) away from the base of the tower.
	The lower level of the observation deck rotates at the rate of about one revolution per 45 minutes. About halfway up the tower to the observation deck level are several microwave antennas used for point-to-point communications systems.
	When we got up to the observation deck, I was stunned at the poor air quality. That haze is not a result of photographing through thick glass. I think this is the view to the northwest of downtown Seoul.
	The view to the north-northeast. The large patch of woods on the left is where Changdeokgung Palace is located.
	Looking due east at some of the newer parts of the city and the Han River. Namsan is a public park, and there were hiking trails all over the mountain. The stone tower in the foreground is Mongmyeoksan Bongsudae, a signal station that was used to give Seoul advance warning of impending danger until its decomissioning in 1895.
	Looking south, at the portion of Seoul on the other side of the Han River.
	Two tunnels underneath Namsan converge into one road called Banporo. To the left, in the distance is the Itaewon neighborhood, where many foreigners in Seoul live. We never got around to visiting Itaewon.
	The air quality was so poor that even these tall buildings on the north side of the river are obscured. Behind them would be Yeouido, the financial district of Seoul, less than 3 miles (5 km) away.
	The other communications tower on Namsan.
	Another look up the length of N Seoul Tower from ground level.
	Several hanging scultpures were strung up over the park at the top of Namsan Mountain.
	Jen, on the very steep walk back down the hill to the bus.