King Jungjong was originally buried elsewhere, but his tomb was moved to this location by his third queen, Munjeong, who intended to be buried beside him.
Queen Munjeong was ultimately buried in Taereung instead, leaving King Jungjong's tomb isolated from a queen's burial, which was non-standard for the era.
The site is one of 40 Joseon royal tombs located across South Korea designated as a single collective UNESCO World Heritage property.
The park provides a rare migration corridor and habitat for local bird species within the concrete-heavy Gangnam district.
The 'spirit path' is divided into two levels: the slightly higher path was reserved for the spirit, while the lower path was for the king.
The red-painted gate, or Hongsalmun, serves as a symbolic marker to indicate that the space beyond is sacred ground.
Despite being in the center of a major metropolitan hub, the elevation of the tombs provides natural sound dampening from city traffic.
The grass on the burial mounds is manually groomed and inspected regularly to prevent soil erosion and maintain structural stability.
Seolleung and Jeongneung contain the burial mounds of King Seonjong and Queen Jeonghyeon, and King Jungjong of the Joseon Dynasty. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site consisting of three separate mounds within a sprawling forest park in the heart of the Gangnam business district. The site features traditional royal tomb architecture, including T-shaped ritual shrines, stone animal sculptures, and paths designated for spirits and kings. Seolleung houses the tomb of the ninth king, Seongjong, and his queen, while Jeongneung holds the grave of the eleventh king, Jungjong. The surrounding grounds serve as a densely forested urban oasis preserved since the 15th and 16th centuries. Visitors can walk an integrated trail that connects the various tumuli through wooded paths. The tombs exemplify the Joseon Dynasty's Confucian funeral rites and site planning principles. The area is maintained by the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea to preserve its historical integrity amidst modern skyscrapers.
The elevated viewing point on the trail behind King Seongjong's tomb provides a unique perspective of the tumulus framed by modern skyscrapers.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, as the path connecting the different mounds involves hilly, unpaved forest trails.
Bring water, as facilities are limited once you enter the forest trails between the tomb mounds.
Plan to visit the small exhibition hall near the entrance first to understand the layout and history before walking the grounds.
Avoid visiting during the intense humidity of mid-summer afternoons; do not assume the entire park is flat, as the tomb sites are elevated on hills.
Closed on Mondays for maintenance and administrative upkeep.
Do not step on the burial mounds or climb the stone pedestals; remain on marked walking paths; silence is expected near the ritual shrines.
