[One Day Walk] "You Need to Be at Least 500 Years Old to Show Your Business Card"... The Majestic 'Geumgangsong Forest Trail' Lined with Towering Pine Trees

[Editor's Note] The Korea Forest Service has selected 30 "Premium Forest Trails Ideal for Walking" to commemorate the 50th anniversary of national reforestation. The selected trails are suitable for about a day's hike and are easily accessible, allowing the public to use them comfortably and conveniently. Every Friday, we introduce premium forest trails provided by the Korea Forest Service.

An entrance signboard is erected at the beginning of the Uljin Geumgang Pine Forest Trail. Source=Korea Tourism Organization

Today's 10,000-step course is the "Uljin Geumgang Pine Forest Trail" (hereafter referred to as Geumgang Pine Trail), located in Sogwang-ri, Geumgangsong-myeon, Uljin-gun, Gyeongbuk Province.

The Geumgang Pine Trail is divided into six sections: ▲ Section 1 (Bobusang-gil) one-way 13.5 km, 7 hours, difficulty 'medium-high' ▲ Section 2 (Hannamujegil) one-way 9.6 km, 4 hours, difficulty 'medium' ▲ Section 3 (Five-Hundred-Year Pine Trail) round trip 16.3 km, 7 hours, difficulty 'medium' ▲ Section 3-1 (Hwajeonmin Old Trail) round trip 9.0 km, 4 hours, difficulty 'medium' ▲ Section 4 (Daewang Pine Trail) round trip 10.48 km, 5 hours, difficulty 'medium' ▲ Section 5 (Bobucheon-gil) round trip 10.48 km, 5 hours, difficulty 'medium' ▲ Section 6 (Family Exploration Trail) round trip 5.3 km, 3 hours, difficulty 'easy'.

This forest trail, the first in Korea to operate by reservation, is open to the public with varying accessibility depending on the season for each section. Visitors planning to explore this area should check information in advance. The reservation system is a measure to protect the natural scenery intact.

The Geumgang Pine Trail was designated as Hwangjangbongsan in 1680, the 6th year of King Sukjong's reign in the Joseon Dynasty (a place where quality pine trees were controlled to prevent commoners from logging them for royal timber supply). This indicates the high value placed on the pine trees here even during the Joseon era.

Visitors walking side by side on the late summer Uljin Geumgang Pine Forest Trail. Provided by the Korea Forest Service

Since then, the Geumgang Pine Trail has been consecutively designated as a breeding forest (the first in Korea) in 1959, a pine gene protection forest in 1981, a natural protection forest in 1985, and a forest genetic resource protection forest in 2001, with the government directly protecting and managing it.

Above all, the government did not open the Geumgang Pine Trail to the public until 1998, when it first announced its existence to the world.

Thanks to this, the Geumgang Pine Trail has been able to maintain its pristine natural environment. In particular, there are clusters of pine trees over 200 years old throughout the area, and pines over 500 years old such as the "Five-Hundred-Year Pine" and the "Motnani Pine" proudly greet visitors.

It is also known to be home to various natural monuments and endangered wild animals and plants, including the Korean goral, sable, mountain hawk-eagle, and trailing azalea.

On the Uljin Geumgang Pine Forest Trail, pine trees over 200 years old form clusters throughout the area, and two pine trees estimated to be over 500 years old still stand in their places. A "Motnani Pine," estimated to be over 500 years old, stands tall. Photo by Korea Forest Service

However, some areas such as the forest genetic resource protection zone within the Geumgang Pine Trail remain closed to the public year-round, and even the open trails are limited to a maximum of 80 people per day who must make reservations and explore accompanied by a forest guide.

Among the six sections of the Geumgang Pine Trail, the Family Exploration Trail is relatively accessible and less strenuous, making it a popular section.

The Family Exploration Trail is the first premium forest trail constructed with national funds by the Korea Forest Service, presenting a model where people and nature coexist. When developing this section, the Korea Forest Service filled most surrounding facilities with natural materials except for safety and convenience facilities.

Additionally, local residents volunteer as forest guides, prepare and sell lunch to visitors, and generate income by operating guesthouses utilizing closed school buildings. This structure highlights the Geumgang Pine Trail as a positive model for revitalizing the mountain village economy while preserving the natural state and promoting coexistence between nature and people.

Main route (6 sections Family Exploration Trail): Geumgang Pine Ecological Management Center ~ Five-Hundred-Year Pine ~ Motnani Pine ~ Beauty Pine ~ Geumgang Pine Ecological Management Center

Course length: 5.3 km

Estimated time: 3 hours

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