Why is it called Daejeon Park?

Daejeon Park is named after Daejeon, Seattle's sister city in South Korea.

Where is Daejeon Park?

Daejeon Park is at 1144 Sturgus Ave S on the north side of Beacon Hill, next to Sturgus Park. Seattle Parks and Recreation operates it.

What is the pagoda at Daejeon Park?

The Korean-style pagoda, called Taejonjeong or "Pavilion of Greatness," was given to the city in 1998. It is the park's main feature.

Can you see Mount Rainier from Daejeon Park?

Yes. Daejeon Park offers views of Mount Rainier along with an open lawn and walking paths.

Daejeon Park: Korean Pagoda and Rainier Views on Beacon Hill

A Korean-style pagoda overlooks an open lawn, and on days when the mountain is out, Mount Rainier fills the view beyond it. This is Daejeon Park, a public park at 1144 Sturgus Ave S on the north side of Beacon Hill, run by Seattle Parks and Recreation and named for Seattle's sister city of Daejeon, South Korea. Come for the walking paths and the views, and you will find a quiet stop with real cultural meaning.

Named for Seattle's Korean Sister City

The park takes its name from Daejeon, the South Korean city that shares a sister city relationship with Seattle. That connection gives this patch of green a role beyond open space, since it is one of the places in Seattle where the city's ties to Korea show up right in the landscape.

Daejeon Park sits right beside Sturgus Park in North Beacon Hill, so as you wander from one to the other, the two feel almost like a single green stretch.

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The Taejonjeong Pagoda

Make your way first to the heart of the park, a pagoda built in a Korean style. Presented to the city in 1998, it carries the name Taejonjeong, which translates as "Pavilion of Greatness."

The pagoda sets the tone for the whole park. Settle in here to sit, gaze out and slip into a slower pace than the surrounding streets allow.

Things to Do in the Park

Daejeon Park keeps things simple and low-key, and much of its charm comes from exactly that. Here is how to spend your time:

An open lawn invites you to spread out a picnic blanket and stay a while.
Walking paths are made for an easy, unhurried stroll.
Views of Mount Rainier reward you on days when the mountain is out.
The pagoda offers a calm spot for reflection or a few quiet minutes.

Travel writers have praised the park for working well both as a picnic lawn and as a place for quiet thought. It has also turned up in published walking tours of Seattle, and you will find it mentioned in the 2022 book Muddy Backroads: Stories from off the Beaten Path by Luanne Smith and Bonnie Jo Campbell.

A Community Gathering Place

Over the years, Daejeon Park has served as a meeting point for community events. In 2010, a group made up mostly of Korean community members gathered here to protest North Korea's shelling of Yeonpyeongdo.

In 2016, about 35 people set out from the park and walked to the Northwest African American Museum as part of the I AM Procession, a march organized by activist and artist Kimisha Turner to raise awareness of colorism.

In 2019, the Korean American Coalition held a cleanup at the park for Korean American Service Day, a reminder that local groups help care for this space.

Nearby Parks and Landmarks

North Beacon Hill packs plenty of parks and history into a few blocks, so it is easy to pair Daejeon Park with other stops. Head out on foot and, within about a third of a mile, you will find:

Lewis Park, roughly 0.1 mile away
Sturgus Park, right next door at about 0.2 mile
Judge Charles M. Stokes Overlook, about 0.2 mile away
The Pacific Medical Center, the former U.S. Marine Hospital, a landmark about 0.2 mile away
The Black Manufacturing Building, a landmark about 0.2 mile away
Beacon Bluff community garden, about 0.3 mile away
Katie Black's Garden and the Black Property landmark, each about 0.3 mile away

These distances are straight-line, so your actual walking route may run a little longer. Ready for more green space around the city? Browse our guide to all parks in Seattle.

Plan Your Visit

You will find Daejeon Park at 1144 Sturgus Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144. Before you go, check with Seattle Parks and Recreation for current hours, rules and any updates.