Namsan's 'Goblin Bench' — the Real Story of Huam-dong's Wishing Rock

Dutumbawi, the rock for wishing for a child

According to the Seoul city government, Huam-dong once had a large, round, thick rock called Dutumbawi. People who longed for children came to pray there. The rock is gone; only the neighbourhood name, Huam ('thick rock'), remains.

A stone the residents put up

Across from Namsan Library stands a marker stone reading 'Dutumbawi Village (Huam-dong)'. Local residents raised the money and set it up in 2013. The bench now called the 'goblin spot' is right behind it.

Where the goblin story comes from

The idea that a dokkaebi (Korean goblin) lives here and grants wealth seems to have spread from one person's Threads post. City and district records say nothing about goblins.

The claim that TV show 'Home Alone' (Na Honjasanda) went there doesn't check out either: in the 7 August 2026 episode, Ryu Hye-young and Ko Kyung-pyo climbed the 'Samsoon stairs', and the reports don't mention the bench. Still, sitting down and making a wish on a Namsan walk costs nothing.

Walk on

Seoul's Huam-dong history walk starts at this very stone, heading down Dutumbawi-ro past the old Jeonsaengseo site marker into the lanes of Huam-dong. Namsan Library across the road turned 100 in 2022.

Getting there

Get off at the 'Namsan Library' bus stop. From Seoul Station Exit 9-1, take bus 402 from platform 5 of the median bus transfer centre; from Hoehyeon Station (Line 4) Exit 5, take 402 or 405; from Dongguk Univ. Station (Line 3) Exit 6, take circular bus 01A or 01B.

The library car park is free for the first hour, then ₩150 per 5 minutes (card only), and closed on public holidays.