Sancheong-gun Develops Hwangmaesan Natural Recreation Forest ... Preserving Azalea Colonies Minimizing Environmental Damage

Synergy with Existing Forest Recreation Facilities Including Donguibogamchon

Azalea at Hwangmaesan.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam announced on the 21st that it will create the ‘Sancheong Hwangmaesan Natural Recreation Forest’ in Hwangmaesan, famous for its native azalea colonies and silver grass.

According to the county, the Korea Forest Service recently designated and announced ‘Sancheong Hwangmaesan’ as a ‘Natural Recreation Forest.’

Following this designation, the county plans to preserve and manage the native azalea colonies, minimize environmental damage, and develop the natural recreation forest within the scope that does not impair the landscape.

Sancheong-gun has been striving to expand forest recreation facilities. In addition to the Hwangmaesan Natural Recreation Forest, representative facilities include the Oriental Medicine Natural Recreation Forest in Donguibogam Village, Danseong Mukkok Ecological Forest, and Duncheol Ecological Forest.

This year, the ‘Sancheong Healing Forest’ is scheduled to open in the upper area of Donguibogam Village.

Hwangmaesan, the last subpeak of the Taebaek Mountain Range (太白山脈), is known as the place where the national protector monk Muhak Daesa meditated during the Goryeo Dynasty.

Centered around Hwangmaebong in Beoppyeong-ri, Chahwang-myeon, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam, it features rugged cliffs extending southeast, making it so beautiful that it is called the Little Geumgangsan.

In spring, azaleas and rhododendrons embroider the mountains and rivers with pink hues, and in autumn, silver grass waves white, creating a silver wave.

Thanks to its beautiful scenery throughout the year, more than 600,000 visitors came annually before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The county is gaining favorable responses by installing Mirinae Park, Mirinae Town, and Mirinae Park Auto Camping Site to foster Hwangmaesan as a representative local tourist resource.

A county official said, “Our county’s forest recreation facilities have established themselves as representative forest recreation facilities not only in Sancheong but also in Gyeongnam. We will continue to manage the Sancheong Hwangmaesan Natural Recreation Forest so that it can also become a representative local recreation facility.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.