Ui-dong (Korean: 우이동, Hanja: 牛耳洞) is a dong (neighbourhood) of Gangbuk District, Seoul, South Korea. It functions as both a legal dong (beopjeong-dong) and an administrative dong (haengjeong-dong).
Etymology
The name "Ui-dong" (牛耳洞) literally means "Cow's Ear Valley." It derives from Uiam (牛耳岩, "Cow's Ear Rock"), a rock peak at the end of Dobongsan Mountain that resembles a cow's ear. The surrounding ridges are named Ui-nam Ridge and Ui-buk Ridge. The area's geography—where a tributary of the Han River flows through a valley—was also said to resemble the shape of a cow's ear.
Geography
Ui-dong is located at the northernmost part of Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. It borders:
- Dobong-gu (Dobong 1-dong, Banghak 3-dong, Ssangmun 1-dong) to the north and east, separated by Uicheon Stream and Samyang-ro
- Goyang City (Deogyang-gu) to the west
- Suyu-dong and Insu-dong to the south
The area covers 10.95 km² (as a legal dong) or 8.89 km² (as an administrative dong), of which approximately 89.5% is forest land, most belonging to Bukhansan National Park. Three major streams pass through: Uicheon, Baeguncheon, and Daedongcheon.
History
- Joseon Dynasty: Part of Ui-ri, Ui-myeon, Yangju-gun, Gyeonggi-do
- 1914: Reorganized as Ui-ri, Sungin-myeon, Goyang-gun, Gyeonggi-do
- 1949: Incorporated into Seoul (Seongbuk-gu)
- 1970: Administrative dong system implemented; Ui-dong placed under Suyu 2-dong
- 1973: Transferred to newly created Dobong-gu
- 1975: Became Suyu 4-dong (administrative)
- 1995: Transferred to newly created Gangbuk-gu
- June 30, 2008: Suyu 4-dong officially renamed to Ui-dong, finally using the historical name as the administrative dong name
Demographics
As of July 2025, the population was approximately 19,478. The population peaked around 22,500 in the early 2000s and has been gradually declining. About 9,000 people live in the Suyu-dong area (legal dong) that falls under Ui-dong's administrative jurisdiction.
Characteristics
Ui-dong is one of the most nature-rich neighborhoods in Seoul, with 81% of its area occupied by Bukhansan National Park. It is a popular destination for hikers, especially on weekends, with access via Bukhansan Ui Station, Solbat Park Station, and 4.19 Democratic Cemetery Station on the Ui Sinseol Line (Seoul Light Rail).
Key features include:
- Ui-dong Valley (Uidonggyegok): A scenic valley between Dobongsan and Bukhansan mountains with waterfalls and ponds
- National 4·19 Democratic Cemetery: Memorial for those who died in the April 19 Revolution of 1960
- Solbat Neighborhood Park: A pristine pine forest
- Doseonsa Temple: A historic Buddhist temple
- Uiryeong-gil: A mountain trail connecting to Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do (requires reservation, limited to 1,000 people per day)
- Anto (formerly Para Spa Seoul): A large spa resort, originally the Green Park Hotel (1968)
Transportation
- Urban Railway: Ui Sinseol Line (Bukhansan Ui Station, Solbat Park Station, 4.19 Democratic Cemetery Station)
- Bus: Multiple bus companies have depots in Ui-dong (Donga Transportation, Samyang Transportation, Yeongshin Passenger)
Notable Landmarks
- Bonghwanggak: A Cheondogyo training center; tomb of Son Byeong-hee nearby
- Tomb of Yeo Woon-hyung
- Yun Geuk-young's house
- Park Eul-bok Embroidery Museum
- Modern and Contemporary History Memorial Hall
Education
- Seorabeol Middle School (the only school within Ui-dong)
- No elementary school within the administrative dong; children attend schools in neighboring areas (Seoul Baekun Elementary School in Dobong-gu, Seoul Insu Elementary School in Suyu-dong)
Festivals
- Triangular (Sogwi Village Festival): Held March 2–3; designated as an intangible cultural property of Seoul in 2010
- Mountain Cultural Festival: Held every autumn (September)
- One Heart Walking Contest: Held annually around May along Uiryeong-gil
