[One Day Walk] Walking Along the Seomjin River 'Songjeong-Omi'

Connected by farm roads, forest roads, and trails within 10.4 km
Estimated time required is about 5 hours 30 minutes

Editor's NoteJirisan is a mountain with an elevation of 1915m, designated as South Korea's first national park. The mountain range spans Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do provinces, 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 a total length of 300 km, like a father's embrace.

The Jirisan Dulle-gil section from Songjeong to Omi is a path where you can walk while viewing the landscape of Toji-myeon, Gurye, Jeollanam-do, and the Seomjin River. Within the 10.4 km trail, various paths such as farm roads, forest roads, and woodland trails are connected. Walking for about 5 hours and 30 minutes, you can encounter diverse forest sceneries. The difficulty level is classified as ‘High’.

Starting from Songjeong Village, walking through the forest trail and climbing a steep slope, you reach Uiseungjae. From Uiseungjae to Seokjugoksu, a magnificent cypress forest unfolds, calming the mind. Seokjugoksu is the site where Gurye militia and Hwaeomsa temple warrior monks fought against the Japanese army during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592?1598).

Passing through Wonsong Village and forest trails, you arrive at Padori in Toji-myeon. After circling the nursing home for the elderly and climbing a steep forest road, you find the Pagoda rest area at the edge of Wangsirubong Peak. It is also good to enjoy nature while looking at Obong Peaks and the Seomjin River.

Passing Solkkkeum Village, you can see Munsuje, a pond formed by the clear water of Munsugol, which flows down from Nogodan. The name Munsugol is related to Munsuam Hermitage or Manjushri Bodhisattva. Manjushri Bodhisattva symbolizes blessings and wisdom in Buddhism. Munsugol was also the place where the 14th Regiment rebel forces of the Yeosu-Suncheon Rebellion crossed the Seomjin River and entered Jirisan to station in October 1948.

After passing Munsuje, you encounter Naejuk and Hajuk villages. Before Munsuje was created, this area was densely covered with bamboo and was called Daebatgol (Bamboo Grove). There is a legend related to the origin of the village: long ago, they tried to build a weir to hold the water of Munsugol, but the entrance of the weir was made of rock and could not be pierced. One night, bamboo shoots pushed through the cracks in the rocks and pierced the weir entrance, so the place came to be called ‘Daenae’.

Omi Village is a typical land of Baesanimsu (a village with a mountain at the back and water in front). Behind the village stretches the Nogodan Brother Peaks ridge (Wollyeongbong ridge), and the Seomjin River flows in front of the village. The most famous site in Omi Village is ‘Unjoru,’ where you can glimpse a noble family house from the Joseon Dynasty. Unjoru, classified as one of the three great auspicious sites in South Korea, has a rice jar inscribed with the phrase ‘Tanin Neunghae’ (他人能解), meaning anyone else can open the rice jar. It is said that during famines, the rice jar was opened to share rice with starving people.

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