[Jo Yongjun's Travel Journey] Shake Off Your Worries with the Sound of Waterfalls~ Enjoy the Fresh Air in Gonggi Village's Cypress Forest~

Discovering Wanju's Unique Hidden Charms: A Healing Journey

Wibong Waterfall, cascading in two stages from a height of 60 meters, offers a majestic sound of water and moss-covered rocks, presenting the scenery of a primeval forest.

Wanju Gonggi Village Cypress Forest

Moaksan Mountain and Fields Viewed from Gyeonggak Mountain Hang Gliding Site

Dae Reservoir and Unamsan Mountain

Morning at Dae Reservoir beginning to be dyed in autumn colors

Mugunghwa Theme Park at Gosan Natural Recreation Forest

Autumn Colors in Gosan Natural Recreation Forest

[Asia Economy, Travel Specialist Reporter Jo Yong-jun] We are heading to Wanju, Jeonbuk. This year and next year are designated as the 'Year of Visiting Wanju.' It is reborn as an ideal travel destination embracing three major sensibilities: nature, culture, and food. Wanju gained fame thanks to BTS. With BTS's visit, Wanju stood out as a travel spot centered around Awon Old House and Oseongje Reservoir. However, Wanju is still relatively unfamiliar and full of hidden charms. Travelmanri seeks Wanju, suitable for the COVID era, avoiding crowded places. These are places that seem to purify tired bodies and minds just by hearing their names.

We enter an ancient forest. All five senses awaken, and the body feels refreshed. The pure bird songs and the sound of the wind open the ears wide, and the sharp scent of the trees washes away the old residue in the lungs. The lingering feeling lasts long. The true value of the forest lined with straight, towering cypress trees can only be felt once you step inside.

In Gonggi Village, Sang-gwan-myeon, Wanju-gun, there is a vast cypress forest. The village name itself, Gonggi Village, makes the air feel different from the moment you enter. Naturally, it evokes the perception of a village with good air. In fact, the name comes from the surrounding mountain terrain being concave like a rice bowl.

In 1976, the villagers planted and nurtured 100,000 cypress trees by hand on the 859,500㎡ (about 260,000 pyeong) mountain slope behind the village. Although the area is not large, the density of trees rivals any forest in Korea.

The forest is dim and cool even at midday. The air is fresh, and not a single insect is around. In the middle of the dense cypress forest, there is also a forest bathing area. In a slightly less dense part of the cypress forest, wooden decks and platforms are set up for rest. Usually, when entering a forest bathing area, people walk while absorbing the forest energy, but most visitors here stay and enjoy the fragrance. Sitting quietly and focusing solely on breathing, one naturally understands why this place is called the 'Healing Forest.'

The walking trail is not very long but has some slopes. However, since it is a zigzag mountain path rather than stairs, it is not strenuous. The cypress forest trail passes the forest bathing area and returns to the village. During the circuit around Gonggi Village cypress forest, the only people encountered were two villagers who modeled for the shoot and a couple traveling.

About 10 minutes from Gonggi Village, there is a place where you can fully experience autumn: Gyeonggak Mountain Paragliding. This place became famous when BTS members who visited Wanju in July 2019 flew paragliders in the Wanju sky.

Gyeonggak Mountain is easy to climb despite its height (659m). There is no need to struggle to reach the summit. From Buljae Pass on Local Road 749, which leads to Imsil, it takes about 10 minutes on foot to reach the gliding site.

From the mountain, the view overlooking Moaksan Mountain and Gui Reservoir is wide and refreshing. The blue lake is dazzlingly blue, and the fields are turning golden. Beyond that, the distant Jeonju cityscape appears faintly before your eyes.

Even without flying experience, you can enjoy paragliding with a professional pilot through tandem paragliding. However, the weather must be suitable. When the wind blows just right, you can enjoy the joy of floating gently in the sky.

Flying in the sky and feeling the refreshing wind is wonderful, but just watching the colorful paragliders floating in the sky is enjoyable and charming. If luck is not on your side, simply standing at the summit and gazing at the surrounding scenery allows you to fully feel the autumn.

After descending the mountain and driving about 50 minutes toward Dae-a Reservoir, you can encounter the refreshing Wibong Waterfall. Wibong Waterfall is also famous as the place where the Joseon Dynasty pansori master Kwon Sam-deuk achieved enlightenment. From the observatory, you can see the majestic waterfall cascading down 60 meters in two stages. You can descend to the waterfall by following the wooden stairs near the observatory. With every step, the majestic sound of water pierces your ears. Wibong Waterfall, harmonizing rugged rocks, dense forest, and deep valleys, is even better when there is more water after rain. Moss-covered rocks are lush green, and the waterfall flowing between them is clear and pristine.

Wibong Waterfall is also the starting point of the 'Gojongsi Masil-gil,' a section of the Wanju route on the Jeonbuk Cheonri Road. Gojongsi is a type of dried persimmon named after King Gojong of the Joseon Dynasty, who enjoyed dried persimmons from Dongsang-myeon here. It is characterized by smaller size, no seeds, and a sweet taste compared to regular persimmons. The Gojongsi Masil-gil trail connects Wibong Mountain Fortress, Wibongsa Temple, Wibong Waterfall, Songgotjae, Sihyang Observatory, Dajami Village, and continues to Hakdong Village in Dongsang-myeon.

About 5 minutes by car from the waterfall is Wibong Mountain Fortress. Built in 1675 (the first year of King Sukjong's reign) by Jeolla Governor and Bu-yun Kwon Dae-jae, it was constructed to relocate the Joseon Taejo royal portrait (a national treasure) enshrined at Jeonju Gyeonggijeon in case of emergency. During the Donghak Peasant Revolution, when Jeonju Fortress fell, the Taejo royal portrait and ancestral tablets were brought here. Wibong Mountain Fortress has a circumference of about 8,539 meters and a height of 1.8 to 2.6 meters. Except for some parts, the fortress walls, gates, bastions, and secret gates are well preserved.

Wibongsa Temple is located on the ridge of Wibong Mountain in Daeheung-ri, Soyang-myeon, inside Wibong Mountain Fortress. Although it is a temple deep in the mountains, its courtyard is flat and spacious. As a nunnery, Wibongsa reflects the aesthetics of restraint. There is no exaggeration or pretension in the arrangement of buildings or spatial composition. The harmony between the ridgepole of Bogwangmyeongjeon Hall's roof and the gentle, smooth ridge of Wibong Mountain is exquisite.

Wanju-gun has designated Wibong Waterfall, Wibong Mountain Fortress, and Wibongsa Temple as the 6th scenic spot among the nine scenic spots of Wanju. Especially, the Wibong Waterfall area was recognized for its cultural and scenic value and was designated as a scenic site last June.

Gosan Natural Recreation Forest is a family resort enjoyed in the forest, boasting beautiful scenery in all four seasons. The dense plantations of larch, Korean pine, and red pine, combined with broadleaf trees and rugged cliffs, make it an ideal place for a quiet rest.

You can rest for half a day at the well-being pavilion, and lodging is available at the recreation center and forest houses. At Mugunghwa Auto Camping Site with caravans, you can spend the night under a sky full of stars.

Wanju = Text and photos by Travel Specialist Reporter Jo Yong-jun jun21@

◇Travel Notes

△Getting There=From the metropolitan area, take the Gyeongbu Expressway - Cheonan-Nonsan Expressway - at Nonsan Junction, head toward Iksan, then from Iksan Junction, continue toward Jangsu and Suncheon, and exit at Sang-gwan IC on the Suncheon-Wanju Expressway, then head toward Jeongjwa Village.

△Attractions=Oseong Hanok Village, Daedunsan Mountain, Awon, Korea Alcohol Theme Museum, Samnye Culture and Arts Village, Picture Book Museum, Mountain Lighthouse, Dae-a Reservoir, Unamsan Mountain, and more.