[One Day Walk] Jirisan Dulle-gil Along Gyeonghogang River 'Sucheol-Seongsimwon' Course

16km from Sucheol Village passing Seonnyeotang to Seongsimwon

Editor's NoteJirisan is the first national park designated in South Korea, standing at an elevation of 1915 meters. The mountain range spans Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do, and is considered a sacred mountain of the Korean people. Walking the Jirisan Dulle-gil trail, which passes through 21 sections, 20 towns and townships, and over 100 villages, allows you to encounter nature, people, and the history of Yeongnam and Honam regions. We introduce the Jirisan Dulle-gil, a generous trail stretching 300 km like a father's embrace.

The Jirisan Dulle-gil section from Sucheol to Seongsimwon takes about 16 km and approximately 6 hours if you pass through Seonnyeotang located midway.

This section connects Sucheol-ri in Geumseo-myeon, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam, located on the eastern foothills of Jirisan, to Seongsimwon in Pung-hyeon Village, Nae-ri, Sancheong-eup. The difficulty level of this section of the Jirisan Dulle-gil is intermediate to lower. Walking along the Gyeongho River that winds through Sancheong-eup refreshes the mind. The Gyeongho River is formed by water flowing down from the slopes of Jirisan and merges with the Nakdong River.

The starting point of the course, Sucheol Village, is a small mountain village with two passes called Ssangjae and Godongjae. Since before the Three Kingdoms period, there was an iron forge making pots and farming tools, so it was called 'Museojeom' or 'Sucheoldong.' There is also a legend that it was the last place where the Gaya Kingdom smelted iron.

Leaving Sucheol Village, passing Jamak Village, Pyeongchon Village, and Daejang Village, you will see Gyeongho 1 Bridge. The Gyeongho River flows beneath it. The river is wide and has no large rocks, so despite its fast current, there are no rapids. Rafts enjoyed by families and friends often pass by.

Walking about 3 km downstream along the Gyeongho River from Gyeongho 1 Bridge, you will reach Naeri Bridge. From Naeri Bridge, you can choose between two courses: one passing through Jiseong Village and stopping by Seonnyeotang, and the other crossing Hanbat Village to Happy Farm.

After circling Naeri Reservoir and passing Jigoksa Temple, entering the foot of Ungseokbong Peak, you arrive at Seonnyeotang. This place is mentioned in 'Yudururok,' a travelogue of Jirisan written in 1472 by the early Joseon Confucian scholar Kim Jong-jik. The Korea Nature Conservation Association selected this site as one of the '100 Famous Waters of Korea' in 1987, citing it as a must-preserve spot despite industrialization. The crystal-clear valley water and the surrounding pine and oak trees are beautiful.

After resting at Seonnyeotang and heading toward Seongsimwon, you will meet Baramjae. Baramjae is the point where the two branches of the Dulle-gil that split at Naeri Bridge converge. Baramjae, where the wind that has passed through the wide fields of Sancheong gently pushes your back to make climbing the gentle hill toward Seongsimwon easier. While walking here, you can also enjoy the magnificent view of Dunchulsan Mountain in the distance.

Walking another 2.42 km from Baramjae, you will reach the destination, Seongsimwon. Seongsimwon is a leprosy village established in 1959 by the Order of Friars Minor, part of the Franciscan order, in Pung-hyeon Village. Since 2012, the annual 'Seongsim Inae (Benevolence and Love) Grand Festival' has been held here. At the entrance of Seongsimwon, there is also a Jirisan Dulle-gil Center.

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