Additional Opening of Joseon Royal Tomb Forest Trails Today

'Seoul Uireung' Royal Tombs and the Area of Chojangji at 'Hwaseong Yungneung and Geonneung'

Namyangju Sareung (Pine Tree Walking Trail)

Five additional forest trails at Joseon Royal Tombs will be opened to the public. The Cultural Heritage Administration’s Royal Tombs and Relics Headquarters announced that from today (the 23rd) until the 29th of next month, visitors will be allowed to explore royal tomb forest trails where pine and maple trees harmonize. These include a 370m trail around the Seoul Uireung royal tomb area (pine and wildflowers), a 770m trail around the Hwaseong Yungneung and Geonneung grassland area (oak and wildflowers), a 580m trail around the Gimpo Jangneung pond and reservoir area (oak and maple), a 150m trail around the traditional tree nursery at Namyangju Hongneung and Yureung (pine and maple), and a 750m trail from the Hongsalmun gate to the office forest path at Namyangju Sareung (pine and wildflowers). All have recently been refurbished to restore their native vegetation environments and improve visitor facilities.

Seoul Uireung (Pine Tree Walking Trail)

The Royal Tombs and Relics Headquarters had previously opened eight forest trails at Joseon Royal Tombs. These include a 3,200m trail from Hwiryung to Gyeongneung to the nursery at Guri Donggureung (Japanese snowbell and zelkovas), a 350m trail from Geumcheon Bridge to Jeongjagak pavilion at Namyangju Gwangneung (fir and dogwood), a 600m trail from the Hongsalmun gate to the office at Namyangju Sareung (pine and maple), an 1,800m trail from Taereung to Gangneung in Seoul (pine and oak), a 600m trail at Cheonjangsan in Seoul Uireung (pine and oak), a 1,700m trail around the royal tomb at Paju Jangneung (pine and Japanese snowbell), a 1,900m trail behind Gongneung at Paju Samneung (pine and oak), and a 3,900m trail between Yungneung and Geonneung in Hwaseong (pine and oak).

Hwaseong Yungunreung (Chojangji Forest Trail)

The opening hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in October, and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in November. Visitors must comply with COVID-19 prevention measures such as maintaining a distance of at least 2 meters from others, following one-way paths within the forest trails, and wearing masks when using multi-use facilities. The royal tomb forest trails offer a lush forest landscape within the city. The phytoncides, natural antibacterial agents emitted by the trees, can boost physical and mental immunity. According to the National Institute of Forest Science, walking 2 km along a forest trail for 30 minutes can reduce negative emotions such as depression and fatigue by more than 70%.