Namsan Mountain is one of the most iconic landmarks of Seoul (and South Korea in general). It’s a well-known natural space that even though it’s surrounded by a big city, keeps its bloom and brightness. As I climbed up Namsan Seoul Tower, I was able to see many different types of plants and trees. However, at the same time, I saw very clear signs of human activity, such as pollution and an interesting recent tradition. This made me think about the way nature and humans interact when they’re in the same space.
On my way up Namsan Mountain, I observed a great variety of plants, from trees with green leaves to cherry blossoms with light pink and white flowers, to smaller plants and flowers growing near the ground. Namsan Mountain is a forest, and many of the trees were tall and fully green, while others were still in the process of blooming.
As for the flowers, they were small and soft, and because cherry blossom season is over, most of the petals had already fallen onto the ground. There were, however, other flowers blooming in their place, with much richer and more vibrant colors, and many diverse shapes and sizes. This mix of colors and textures made the environment feel welcoming and alive.
