Balsan-dong () is a dong (neighborhood) of Gangseo District, Seoul, South Korea.
Balsan-dong derives its name from Sumeongsan Mountain, also known as Palyeosan or Balsan, which is said to resemble an overturned rice bowl. Due to this bowl-like shape, the mountain was called "Balsan" (é¢山), meaning "bowl-shaped mountain." The area was historically divided into two settlements: Naebalsan-dong ("Inner Balsan"), located within the mountainâÂÂs interior, and Oebalsan-dong ("Outer Balsan"), situated outside of it.
The name "Balsan" appears in the Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam, a geographic compendium from the Joseon Dynasty. At the time, the region was part of Naebalsan-ri and Oebalsan-ri within Gagok-myeon, Yangcheon-hyeon, in Gyeonggi Province. These villages are also recorded in the Hoguchongso, a historical census register, where they are listed under Gabaegok-myeon in the same jurisdiction.