Seoul Zoo, Zoo in Gwacheon, South Korea
Seoul Zoo is a zoo in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, and forms part of the larger Seoul Grand Park. Its grounds include open animal enclosures, a botanical garden, and several themed houses such as the Primate House, the Tropical Bird House, and a marine pavilion with seals and sea lions.
Seoul Zoo opened on May 1, 1984, in Gwacheon, taking over the role of the older zoo that had been located at Changgyeonggung Palace in central Seoul. Over the following decades, several enclosures and buildings were redesigned to improve animal care and update visitor spaces.
For many families around Seoul, the zoo is a regular day out where people walk at their own pace and stop wherever something catches their eye. Areas like the Tropical Bird House and the Primate House draw visitors in close, offering a direct look at animals in spaces designed to reflect their natural surroundings.
The zoo is in Gwacheon and is easy to reach by taking subway Line 4 to Seoul Grand Park Station, from where the entrance is a short walk. The grounds are large, so comfortable shoes are a good idea, and an elephant tram runs through the park for those who prefer not to walk the whole route.
In July 2013, a dolphin named Jedori that had lived at the zoo for years was released back into the ocean. It was one of the very few cases worldwide where a dolphin kept in captivity was successfully returned to the wild.
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