[One Day Walk] 'Wonbuchun-Gatan' Where Tea Fields Spread Everywhere

Section Walking in the High Mountain Area of Jirisan
Classified as Difficulty 'High'... Estimated to Take About 6 Hours

Editor's NoteJirisan is the first national park designated in South Korea, a mountain with 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 trail, which stretches a total of 300 km and is as generous as a father's embrace.

The Jirisan Dulle-gil section ‘Wonbuchun-Gatan’ is an 11.4 km course connecting Wonbuchun Village in Buchun-ri, Hwagae-myeon, Hadong, Gyeongnam, and Gatan Village in Tap-ri. This section traverses the high mountain area of Jirisan. The estimated time required is about 6 hours, and the difficulty level is classified as ‘high.’ You can see tea cultivation in various places along the way.

There are several stories about the origin of the name Wonbuchun Village. The indigenous residents call Buchun ‘Buchidong’ or ‘Bulchuldong,’ because the village clings to the mountainside below Hyeongjebong like it is hanging. Secondly, during the Goryeo Dynasty, there was a large temple called Wongangsa, and the area was called ‘Buddha Valley,’ which later changed to Buchun. Thirdly, it is said that during the Goryeo period, a scholar named Han Yuhan wrote ‘Bulchuldong’ on a rock and became an immortal without ever leaving the world. Following the forest road on the left side of the valley, the Jirisan Dulle-gil trail continues.

As you follow the forest road uphill, just when you feel the ascent has ended, you will encounter the Hyeongjebong Forest Road Three-way Junction. To the right is the path to Hyeongjebong, and to the left leads to Jungchon. Hyeongjebong is a peak that once stood tall before the southern ridge of Jirisan was submerged by the Seomjin River. If you go a little down to the left from the junction, there is a Hyeongjebong rest area. It is a good place to take a break while enjoying the main ridge of Jirisan.

Afterward, a steep downhill path continues. After descending for a while, you can see tea fields at the edge of the pine forest. When the forest path ends, you will reach Jeungchon Village, also known as Hoegangigol.

Descending from Jungchon Village, you will see a three-way junction. This is where the Jirisan National Park trail and the Jirisan Dulle-gil trail diverge, and a signpost is installed. The Dulle-gil trail continues to Jeonggeum Village. The original name of Jeonggeum was ‘Tangeum,’ meaning ‘playing the Gayageum.’ The mountain behind the village is Oknyubong. The Jeonggeum area is covered with tea fields. It is a region through which the ‘Millennium Tea Field Road,’ developed by Hadong County around the tea plantation site, passes.

Following the tea fields and terraced rice paddies along the road beside Daebi Village, you will pass Baekhye Village and, a little further down, reach Gatan Village. Originally, it was called Gayeoul (Gatan), meaning ‘beautiful shallow water.’ Even now, residents are known to call it Gayeoul or Gaerol. Gatan Village is adjacent to the Hwagae Ten-ri Cherry Blossom Road, which attracts many visitors during cherry blossom season.

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