[Jo Yongjun's Travel Journey] The Lush Pine Forest! A Purple Visitor Has Arrived

Journey to Seocheon Janghang Forest - Late Blooming Purple Liriope Lights Up, Earth Ecotourism and National Institute of Ecology Attractions

Janghang Forest, densely populated with tens of thousands of pine trees, is a popular destination not only for locals but also for many travelers. Along the forest path filled with dense Gomsol pine trees, purple Liriope blooms create a spectacular scene.

Janghang Forest Skywalk

National Institute of Ecology

Family experiencing Janghang Mudflat

[Asia Economy, Yongjun Cho, Travel Specialist] The Chungnam Seocheon Janghang Forest, famous for Hansan Mosi (fine ramie fabric), is filled with a purple fragrance. Janghang Forest refers to the white sandy beach and pine forest area of Songnim-ri, Janghang-eup. Behind the sandy beach stretching over 1.5 km lies a magnificent forest densely populated with tens of thousands of pine trees. The sea breeze blowing through the forest feels especially fresh. The summer heat has subsided in the pine forest, which is now filled with the essence of autumn. Walking along the dense forest path where the black pines block the sky, you feel as if your whole body will be dyed blue with refreshing vitality. Climbing the skywalk offers a wide-open view that refreshes your chest to the core. Especially at sunset, the mudflats moist with water create a fantastic scene. Near Janghang Forest is the largest National Institute of Ecology in Korea. There is no better place for an outing during the Chuseok holiday.

Across the Geum River, facing Gunsan, stands the old smelting plant on Seonang Mountain in Seocheon, with a towering 92-meter chimney. It is a symbolic landscape of Janghang, which developed as an industrial city during the Japanese colonial period. Moving slightly towards the sea from this viewpoint mountain, you will find Janghang Forest.

In 1954, students of Janghang Agricultural High School (now Janghang Technical High School) planted 12,000 black pines (haesong) as a windbreak forest, which has grown into a dense forest and become a local attraction. Well-maintained walking trails run through the pine forest, allowing visitors to enjoy both the forest and the sea. Seasonal flowers are planted on the forest floor; currently, Liriope muscari carpets the dark green pine branches like a rug.

Sunlight filtering through the pine trees highlights the purple Liriope muscari, captivating tourists' attention. The name Liriope muscari comes from the shape of its root. The root is used in traditional Korean medicine and the plant thrives well in shaded areas, making it easy to find even in urban areas. Although commonly seen in daily life, the Liriope muscari found in Janghang Forest offers a unique emotional experience. The blooming period of Liriope muscari is from May to early September, but you can still see it during the upcoming Chuseok holiday.

There is a 15-meter-high skywalk in the forest. Walking on it while smelling the pine scent offers a thrilling experience as if walking in the sky. Since the sea, pine forest, and sky path meet here, you can enjoy the beauty of land, sea, and air all at once.

The skywalk was the key factor in making Seocheon, previously unfamiliar as a travel destination, into a famous tourist spot a few years ago. Climbing the spiral staircase leads to a flat path without curves. The wooden deck sections are relatively easy to walk on, but the parts covered with perforated iron mesh can make even those without acrophobia feel dizzy. When strong sea winds blow, the skywalk slightly sways, adding to the tension.

The pine trees here are exceptionally tall. Next to the skywalk, pine needles are abundant, allowing visitors to enjoy a refreshing pine-scented stroll along the sky path. The end of the skywalk is the Gibeolpo Observatory. You can take a deep breath facing the sea and look down at the tiny people like ants. The wide-open view refreshes your chest to the core. Especially at sunset, the reflection of the glowing mudflats moist with water is exquisite.

The vast white sandy beach and mudflats adjacent to Gibeolpo Observatory and the pine forest are the Janghang mudflats. The expansive mudflats exposed by the receding tide are filled with sand balls made by fiddler crabs. Along the long coastline, various mudflat creatures are busy in their own ways.

Seocheon-gun operates Weekend Janghang, a program offering romance and healing to visitors of Janghang Pine Forest Forest Bathing Area. Every Saturday until November 5, diverse programs are held from 3 PM until sunset around the Janghang Pine Forest Forest Bathing Area.

At the natural resting area for sunset viewing and nature healing, parasols, sunbeds, and tipi tents are available for free rental. Additionally, buskers from across the country participate, traveling to Janghang and performing busking shows.

Yubudo Island in front of Janghang Pine Forest is considered the ecologically most valuable area within the Seocheon mudflats. Located about 6 km in a straight line from the coast, Yubudo is as flat as the sea and barely visible to the naked eye. The extensive mudflats surrounding the island have become a paradise for over 100 species of rare migratory birds. Migratory birds traveling long distances stop here as an intermediate resting point to feed on the abundant clams in the sandy mudflats. Thirteen species of migratory birds listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, such as the black-headed gull and red-shouldered curlew, have been observed here. Notably, the black-headed gull, known as the "dandy of the mudflats," spends the winter here.

After healing in Janghang Forest, embark on an ecological outing. Visit the nearby National Institute of Ecology, which spans about 1 million square meters (300,000 pyeong), roughly the size of 90 soccer fields. It is divided into five zones: the Ecorium recreating five climate zones, the Geumguri Zone reproducing river and wetland ecosystems, the Hadaram Zone showcasing the nature of the Korean Peninsula, the Paleo-Continent Zone where you can see roe deer and water deer, and the Bird Resting Zone.

The most eye-catching facility in the ecology institute is undoubtedly the Ecorium. It is a space that replicates ecosystems from different climate zones worldwide, comparable to a small Earth. The first exhibition hall, the Tropical Zone, evokes a jungle atmosphere from the entrance. Maintaining a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius, the tropical zone's scent from fresh tropical plants is distinct. The unique aerial roots of tropical plants hang down like threads. These are not decorations but actual living tree roots.

The Desert Zone introduces flora and fauna adapted to harsh environments, divided into regions such as Madagascar and Namib in Africa, Atacama in South America, and Mojave in North America.

Entering the Mediterranean Zone, a strong herbal scent fills the air. Centered on European Mediterranean vegetation, this area features carnivorous plants and the baobab tree, well known from the novel "The Little Prince," which are rarely seen elsewhere.

Exiting the Ecorium leads to Hadaram Square, a popular playground for children. Play facilities shaped as characters representing flora and fauna of the Korean Peninsula, such as frog tongue slides, ladybugs, and mushroom shades, attract children's attention. Outdoors, there are also the Korean Peninsula Forest and Wetland Ecology Garden, reproducing native vegetation and wetland ecosystems, showing meticulous effort so that visitors could spend a whole day exploring without running out of things to see.

Another highlight of the Seocheon ecological outing is the National Marine Biological Resources Center. It is a national facility established for comprehensive management of marine biological resources and securing biological sovereignty. While the ecology institute focuses on continental ecosystems, this center is a comprehensive collection of marine life. It is located about 7 km away from the ecology institute. Upon entering the exhibition hall, the first thing that catches the eye is a huge cylindrical pillar rising vertically in the lobby with a ceiling open to the sky. It is not a mere decoration. Inside the transparent cylinder are numerous small glass boxes. This is a seed bank containing specimens of over 5,000 marine species inhabiting Korea. Although visitors cannot enter it directly, they can view the specimens inside through a touchscreen search system.

Seocheon = Written and photographed by Yongjun Cho, travel specialist jun21@

◇ Travel Notes

△ Getting There = From the metropolitan area, you can use the Gyeongbu Expressway or the Seohaean Expressway. For Gyeongbu, take the Cheonan-Nonsan Expressway, then at Gongju Junction, take the Seocheon-Gongju Expressway, exit at Seocheon IC, head towards the National Industrial Complex, and then proceed to Janghang Forest. For Seohaean, head towards Mokpo and exit at Seocheon IC.

△ Attractions = Maryang Port Camellia Forest, Hongwon Port, Chunjangdae Beach, Hansan Mosi and Sogokju (traditional rice wine), Sinseong-ri Reed Field, and Geumgang Estuary Tourist Site, among others.