Chungju 'Ocheongsan Pine Forest' Selected as This Month's National Forest Premium Forest

by Jeong Ilwoong

Published 12 Dec.2021 14:06(KST)

Scenic view of the forest trail around Ocheongsan, Chungju. Provided by the Korea Forest Service

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Korea Forest Service has selected the pine forest of Ocheongsan in Chungju as the national forest premium forest of this month (December).

According to the Korea Forest Service on the 12th, Ocheongsan is a mountain with an elevation of 652 meters, forming the boundary between Sancheok-myeon, Chungju-si, Chungbuk and Baegun-myeon, Jecheon-si. The pine forest is located in Songgang-ri (松江里), Sancheok-myeon, extending from the summit of the mountain to the southern slope.

Songgang-ri is an area where pine trees have naturally formed clusters, and it has abundant water systems such as valleys and reservoirs, maintaining an excellent natural ecosystem along with various animals and plants.

In particular, this national forest covers an area of 717 hectares, which is 2.5 times the size of Yeouido, and has been planted with various artificial afforestation trees such as larch, fir, ash, birch, and tulip trees, managed as an economic forest that can be used for timber in the future.

Thanks to this, the Songgang-ri area creates a harmonious landscape where naturally grown large pine and oak trees coexist with various plant communities in the artificial forest. Above all, the pine snow scenery on snowy winter days boasts a spectacular view that rivals any other place.

Within the economic forest cultivation complex around the Chungju Ocheongsan pine forest, many people enjoy forest sports activities such as mountain biking using forest roads.

Since its designation as an economic forest cultivation complex in 1995, the 25 km of forest roads established for forest maintenance, tree planting, and forest protection within the complex have become a popular spot for forest sports among the general public.

Inquiries about visiting the ‘Ocheongsan Pine Forest’ can be made through the Chungju National Forest Management Office of the Korea Forest Service.

Joo Yong-won, Director of National Forest Management at the Korea Forest Service, said, “Ocheongsan is a beautiful four-season forest where many economically valuable and scenic trees grow besides pine trees,” and recommended, “We suggest visiting the national forest premium forest in Ocheongsan along with nearby local attractions such as Cheondeungsan, Jideungsan, Indeungsan, and Bakdaljae Natural Recreation Forest.”