N Seoul Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids YTN Seoul Tower |
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The tower and lattice transmission tower (left) in 2018
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| Alternative names |
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Communication tower |
| Location | Seoul |
| Address | 04340 105, Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea (Yongsan-dong 2-ga, YTN Seoul Tower) |
| Coordinates | Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 614: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Construction started | 1969 |
| Completed | 3 December 1971 |
| Owner | YTN |
| Height | |
| Roof | 279 m (915 ft) |
| Top floor | 239 m (784 ft) |
| Other information | |
| Number of stores | +82-2-3455-9277 |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
엔 서울타워
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| RR | En Seoul tawo |
| MR | En Sŏul t'awŏ |
The N Seoul Tower, also known as the Namsan Tower or officially the YTN Seoul Tower, is a tall building in central Seoul, South Korea. It sits on top of Namsan mountain, which is about 262 meters (860 feet) high. The tower itself is 236 meters (774 feet) tall. This makes it the second highest point in Seoul and a very famous landmark.
The N Seoul Tower was built in 1971. It was South Korea's first tower used for sending out radio and TV signals. Today, it still broadcasts signals for major Korean TV and radio stations like KBS, MBC, and SBS.
Contents
History of the N Seoul Tower
The tower was finished on December 3, 1971. It cost about 2.5 million US dollars to build. At first, it was mainly used to send out TV and radio signals. It also helped block signals from North Korea from reaching Seoul.
An observation deck was added in 1975. However, it didn't open right away because of safety worries. The president's home, the Blue House, could be seen from the top. Even now, telescopes at the tower are not pointed towards the Blue House.
The tower finally opened to the public in October 1980 and quickly became a popular spot in Seoul. In 2005, it was renamed N Seoul Tower. The 'N' stands for 'new', 'Namsan Mountain', and 'nature'. About 15 billion Korean Won was spent to update and remodel the tower that same year.
The tower has changed owners a few times. It was once called the CJ Seoul Tower. Now, YTN owns it, and its official name is YTN Seoul Tower. It is still a very important tower for broadcasting in Korea. The N Seoul Tower is so well-known that it was chosen as one of the world's top 500 tourist places by Lonely Planet.
What's Inside the Tower?
The N Seoul Tower has three main parts: the N Lobby, N Plaza, and N Tower. The N Plaza has two floors, and the N Tower has four floors. There are several places to enjoy the view, including observation decks and restaurants.
N Lobby
The N Lobby is where you enter the tower. It has an information desk, a museum, a cafe, and even a children's theater. There's also a nursing room for families.
N Plaza
The N Plaza has two levels. On the first floor, you can buy tickets, souvenirs, and snacks. The second floor has an Italian restaurant and a roof terrace. This roof terrace is famous for the "Locks of Love."
N Tower
The N Tower section has floors 3F, 4F, 5F, and 7F. You might notice there's no 6th floor. Many buildings in South Korea skip the fourth floor because the number four sounds like the word for "death" in Korean. However, N Seoul Tower uses 'F' for 'floor' to avoid this.
From the N Tower, you can see most of Seoul. The third floor has a Korean restaurant called Hancook. It also has a digital observatory with 32 screens that show Korea's history. Floors 4F and 5F have observation decks and gift shops. On the seventh floor, there's a French restaurant that slowly spins around, completing one full turn every 48 minutes.
Fun Things to Do at N Seoul Tower
Visiting the Tower
Many people take the Namsan cable car up Namsan Mountain to reach the tower. The tower is famous for its amazing views of the city. It attracts millions of visitors every year, especially at night when the tower lights up.
The tower is 236.7 meters (777 feet) tall and sits on Namsan Mountain, which is about 243 meters (797 feet) high. In 2012, a survey showed that foreign tourists thought the N Seoul Tower was the best tourist attraction in Seoul.
Tower Lights and Shows
The N Seoul Tower lights up in blue from sunset until 11 PM (or 10 PM in winter). This happens on days when the air quality in Seoul is good. The tower uses modern LED lights to create beautiful "light art" shows. These shows include "Reeds of Light" and "Shower of Light."
One special time the lights are turned off is during Earth Hour. This is when lights are turned off around the world to save energy. At N Seoul Tower, the lights go off at 8 PM to support Earth Hour.
Locks of Love
One of the most popular activities at the tower is hanging "love padlocks." This is done on the Roof Terrace on the second floor of the N Plaza. Couples write messages on padlocks and attach them to the fences, symbolizing their lasting love. Then, they often throw away the key. This tradition has been shown in many Korean TV shows and movies.
Wishing Pond and Observatory
The N Tower also has a Wishing Pond. You can throw coins into the pond and make a wish. The money collected from the pond is donated to help schools in places like China and Southeast Asia.
The observatory on the third floor was updated in 2011. It offers a 360-degree view of the city. It also has 36 screens that show 600 years of Korean history.
Other Attractions
In 2008, a Teddy Bear Museum opened at the tower. To celebrate, they made a 7-meter (23-foot) tall Christmas tree out of 300 teddy bears! The museum shows teddy bears in different parts of Seoul's history and at famous places like Cheonggyecheon Stream and Myeongdong.
The tower also features cool displays made with OLED panels. On the first floor, there's a 9-meter (30-foot) OLED tunnel and a large curved screen showing views of Seoul. On the second floor, there's a round OLED display hanging in the air. The fourth floor has a wavy structure with images of wish lanterns and traditional Korean patterns.
Broadcasting Use
The N Seoul Tower is an important tower for sending out radio and television signals.
TV Stations
| Channel | Channel name | Station | Power | Broadcast Area |
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SBS TV Seoul (HD) | Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) | 5 kW | Seoul Capital Area |
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KBS2 Seoul (HD) | Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) | ||
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KBS1 Seoul (HD) | |||
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EBS TV Seoul (HD) | Educational Broadcasting System (EBS) | ||
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EBS 2 Seoul (HD) | |||
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MBC TV Seoul (HD) | Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) |
Radio Stations
| Frequency | Station name | Power | Broadcast Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96.7 MHz | KFN FM | 2 kW | Seoul Capital Area |
| 99.1 MHz | Gugak FM | 5 kW | |
| 101.3 MHz | tbs eFM | 1 kW |
Images for kids
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Teddy Bear Museum entrance
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A view of Seoul from the N Seoul Tower.
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Another view of Seoul from the N Seoul Tower
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The Namsan cable car, which leads up to the N Seoul Tower.
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The nearby lattice transmission tower at sunset (2012)
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N Seoul Tower illuminated from below at night
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Day Panorama of Seoul from N Seoul Tower
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Night Panorama of Seoul from N Seoul Tower
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See also
In Spanish: N Seoul Tower para niños
- List of towers
- List of tallest buildings in South Korea
- List of tallest buildings in Seoul
- YTN Group
