[One Day Walk] 5 Courses of the 'Areumdaun Sunrye-gil' to Learn History Along the Forest Path

There is a trekking course where you can encounter religious landmarks of Korea along a single path. It is a beautiful pilgrimage route designated in October 2009 to revitalize the pilgrimage trails and promote religious harmony in Jeonbuk Special Autonomous Province. It consists of a total of 9 courses spanning 240 km.

The 5th course of the beautiful pilgrimage trail follows a forest path that encompasses history from the Baekje era to the beginning of Catholicism in Jeolla Province in the 1800s. Starting from Mireuksaji in Iksan City, Jeonbuk, and continuing to Chonam Iseongji, the course is 25.5 km long and takes about 8 hours to complete.

Mireuksaji is the site of Mireuksa Temple, the largest temple of Baekje founded during the Three Kingdoms period. There is a record that King Mu of Baekje established it in 639. Designated as Historic Site No. 150 of the Republic of Korea and a UNESCO heritage site, Mireuksaji is perfect for exploring Baekje relics and Buddhist faith.

Leaving Mireuksaji and walking along the course, you will encounter the Iksan Wanggung-ri Five-story Stone Pagoda, a relic from the Goryeo Dynasty. The five-story pagoda, National Treasure No. 289, is associated with artifacts from the Goryeo period found there, which are collectively designated as National Treasure No. 123 and are preserved at the National Museum of Korea.

After leaving behind the history of Baekje and Goryeo, the course continues along a forest path. Depending on the season, you can enjoy the scent of flowers surrounding the trail or listen to the rustling sound of fallen leaves underfoot, satisfying all your senses.

Exiting the forest path, you will pass Chunpo Station, the oldest station in Korea. Built in 1914, Chunpo Station was one of the stations frequently used by Japanese immigrants because a Japanese immigrant village called ‘Daejangchon’ was established nearby along with Japanese farms. It is no longer in operation and is now used as a tourist site.

At the end of the course awaits Chonam Iseongji, the birthplace of the first apostle of Honam who devoted everything for his faith, the Yu Hanggeom family. Yu Hanggeom was the first person baptized in Catholicism in Jeolla Province. During the Shin-Yu Persecution in 1801, he was the first to be arrested and was executed along with his companions on September 17 of the same year.

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