[One Day Walk] The ‘Scenic Beauty’ of the Han River and Coastal Border... “Gimpo Munsusan Mountain Filled with Culture and History”

[Editor's Note] The Korea Forest Service has selected 50 "Premium Forest Trails Perfect for Walking" to commemorate the 50th anniversary of national reforestation. The selected trails are suitable for about a day’s hike and are easily accessible, allowing the public to use them comfortably and conveniently. Every Friday, we introduce premium forest trails provided by the Korea Forest Service.

Scenery from the summit of Munsu Mountain. Provided by the Korea Forest Service

Today's 10,000-step course is ‘Munsusan,’ a representative mountain in Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do. Munsusan is a mountain with an elevation of 376 meters located in Seongdong-ri, Wolgot-myeon, Gimpo-si.

The biggest feature and advantage of Munsusan is that from the east, you can see the Han River and Seoul’s Samgaksan Mountain; from the west, Ganghwa Island and the distant Incheon sea; and from the north, you can get a panoramic view of the North Korean area beyond the Demilitarized Zone.

From the summit, being able to see Songaksan Mountain in Kaesong, North Korea, across the Han River offers visitors a rare and unique experience.

A passage allowing people to pass through is connected to the Munsusan Fortress. Photo by Korea Forest Service

Munsusan is also nicknamed the ‘Geumgang of Gimpo’ because you can enjoy spectacular views in all directions throughout the four seasons.

Its cultural and historical value is also high. The old fortress remaining on Munsusan, ‘Munsusan Fortress’ (a nationally designated cultural asset), was excavated and investigated by the Goryeo Cultural Heritage Research Institute in 2014, and it is estimated to have been built by Silla during the Three Kingdoms period. The fortress walls from that era were identified as a stone-built mountaintop fortress (300 meters in length, with an internal area of 4,631 square meters) following the ridge from the summit to about 8/10 to 9/10 of the mountain height.

However, during the French Campaign against Korea on September 18, 1866, French troops attacked this site, and the fortress walls and gatehouse facing the coast were destroyed. Currently, only the walls connecting the ridges of Munsusan remain. The remaining walls remind us of the pain endured by our people during the French Campaign.

Partial view of the Munsubong Gunha Forest Trail in autumn. Provided by the Korea Forest Service

The first section to ascend Munsusan is the ‘Gunha Forest Trail,’ starting from the Wolgot Life Culture Center. Along the path from the center up the mountain, visitors are greeted by the history of the old Tongjin-hyeon and majestic zelkova and pagoda trees that have protected Wolgot-myeon for hundreds of years.

The hiking course connected to Munsusan also begins at the ‘Munsusan Forest Bathing Area.’ On this course, visitors can enjoy outdoor exercise facilities such as a jokgu (foot volleyball) court, badminton court, jungle gym, and log climbing, or relax in spaces like outdoor tables, platforms, and benches in the forest bathing area.

Additionally, visitors to Munsusan can enjoy the double pleasure of camping at a nearby campground.

The Korea Forest Service and Gimpo City emphasize the significance of Munsusan’s history and culture, which preserved the country from numerous foreign invasions in the past, and are making every effort to manage and protect it as a representative mountain of the Gimpo region.

Provided by Korea Forest Service

Main stops: Gyeonggi-do Student Campground ~ Munsusan Fortress ~ Munsusan Summit (Jangdaeji) ~ Hongyemun Gate ~ Cheongryong Hall ~ Gimpo International Sculpture Park

Course length: 14 km

Estimated time: 3 hours