[One Day Walk] From Dongpirang Mural Village to Seopirang... Tongyeong Nampalanggil Trail

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Tongyeong Seopirang 99 Steps

[Asia Economy Reporter Myunghwan Lee] Today's ten-thousand-step course is Tongyeong City, Gyeongnam Province. Tongyeong, historically a port city, is famous for its beautiful natural environment such as Jangsado Marine Park. It is also known as a city of culture and arts, being the hometown of writer Park Kyung-ri, who wrote the novel "Toji," composer Yun Isang, and poet Yu Chi-hwan.

Namparang-gil is part of the 'Korea Dullegil' trail that connects the east, west, south, and north of Korea, specifically the southern coastal section. It starts from Oryukdo in Busan Metropolitan City and connects all the way to Ttangkkeut Village in Haenam County, Jeonnam Province, spanning approximately 1,470 km. Namparang-gil consists of a total of 90 courses, and we introduce part of Course 29, which corresponds to the Tongyeong section, as a ten-thousand-step walking course.

The walking course begins at Dongpirang Mural Village. Dongpirang is a word formed by combining 'dong' meaning 'east' and 'pirang,' which in the Tongyeong dialect means 'slope,' referring to the eastern slope. The quiet seaside hillside village, once scheduled for demolition, became famous after murals were painted throughout the village. In 2007, Tongyeong citizens began painting murals on the walls and streets of Dongpirang Village, and soon the village was filled with murals. As word spread, the village became crowded with tourists, and Tongyeong City, which had planned to redevelop the village, abandoned the plan, saving it from demolition. Now, it has become a representative tourist destination of Tongyeong. The view of Gangguan Port in Tongyeong from Dongpirang Mural Village is also a sight to behold.

Next, it is time to move on to Seopirang. Walking past Sebyeonggwan, which was built to commemorate Admiral Yi Sun-sin's military achievements, you reach the entrance of Seopirang Village. Like Dongpirang, Seopirang was also a hillside neighborhood that saw little change while Dongpirang transformed into a mural village. However, starting in 2013, residents began installing artworks throughout the streets, bringing a fresh breeze to the village. The Seopirang 99 Steps, which can be climbed up and down, became an artwork itself as paintings were added to the steps. Inspired by the fact that Seopirang Village is the birthplace of writer Park Kyung-ri, it was also developed as a literary village. The Seopirang 99 Steps are themed around Park Kyung-ri, allowing visitors to appreciate phrases from the writer’s works while ascending and descending.