[Manbo Jeongdam] "Let's Walk the 'Sanmaki Old Road' Embracing the Old Charm of a Rural Village"

Recommended Walking Courses by Procurement Service Chief Im Gi-geun
Mountain Village Retains Old Charm... Easy for Walking
Memorable Mountain Temple: Unmunsa with Vivid Sound of Water

Lim Gi-geun, Administrator of the Public Procurement Service, recommended ‘Sanmagi Old Trail’ located in Goesan, Chungbuk, as a place worth visiting among the temples and walking trails he has visited so far. He cited that it is suitable for people of all ages to walk without burden and to fully enjoy the natural atmosphere in the mountains.

Sanmagi Old Trail has been selected by the Korea Forest Service as one of the ‘50 Premium Forest Trails Good for Walking’ and also listed in the ‘Top 100 Korean Tourism Destinations.’ As its name is widely known, many visitors come to the trail. Goesan-gun estimates that about 10,000 tourists visit this place daily on weekends.

Sanmagi Old Trail wraps around Goesan Lake like a folding screen. The section is 7 km long, and the walking time is about 2 hours and 30 minutes. The decks installed along the trail allow seniors and children to walk the mountain path without difficulty. The decks were built using eco-friendly construction methods that do not harm the surrounding scenery and natural environment, preserving the charm of the old trail leading to the mountain village.

In the past, this path was used to connect Saorang Village in Saeun-ri, Chilseong-myeon, Goesan-gun, Chungbuk, and Sanmagi Village in the mountain valley. Even now, Sanmagi Old Trail retains many old traces where visitors can feel the atmosphere of the mountain village. Folklore stories are passed down, such as the ‘Tiger Cave’ where tigers were said to have lived, the ‘Fox Rain Rock Cave’ where one can rest from sudden rain showers and the midday sun, and the ‘Lame Person’s Spring’ where a person who drank the water suddenly stood up and was able to walk.

Besides Sanmagi Old Trail, Administrator Lim also recommended other walking trails such as Danyang Jando Trail and Beopjusa Sejo Trail, as well as temples worth visiting like Cheongdo Unmunsa, Suncheon Seonamsa, and Haenam Daeheungsa.

Administrator Lim said, “Temples are places where monks cultivate themselves and live, and each temple has its own charm and dignity.” He added, “Commonly, there is always a stream flowing near any temple, but among them, Unmunsa is memorable because the sound of water was the loudest.” He also introduced, “Daeheungsa and Seonamsa are recommended because their temple entrances are beautiful and they are good places to feel the seasonal atmosphere.”

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