Until the Joseon period, the mountain went by a variety of names, including "Baegaksan", "Myeonaksan" (면악산; 面岳山), and "Gonggeuksan" (공극산; 拱極山).

[2] The name "Bugaksan", meaning "north mountain",[4] became popular just after the Japanese colonial period.

Some government offices have made efforts to return to using the "Baegaksan" name, in order to strengthen modern South Korea's ties to the pre-Japanese past.

In November 2005, the Jongno District government investigated the source of the river, and found that it was a mineral water spring about 150 metres (490 ft) from a statue of police officer Choi Gyu-sik [ko].

[2] The Bugak Skyway, located along the northeast ridge of Bugaksan Mountain, has gained a reputation as Korea's most scenic driving route since its opening in September 1968.