[One Day Walk] From Jirisan Popular Market to Traces of the Donghak Movement on the Path

Jirisan Dulle-gil 'Deoksan-Witae' Course... 9.7km
Many Attractions Including Deoksanjang and Hwajeonmin Site

Editor's NoteJirisan is a mountain with an elevation of 1915m, designated as South Korea's first national park. The mountain range spans Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do provinces, and is considered a sacred mountain of the Korean people. Walking the Jirisan Dulle-gil trail, which passes through 21 sections, 20 towns and townships, and over 100 villages, allows you to encounter nature, people, and the history of Yeongnam and Honam regions. We introduce the Jirisan Dulle-gil trail, which stretches a total of 300km and is as generous as a father's embrace.

The Jirisan Dulle-gil 'Deoksan-Witae' section is a course that goes from the Nammyung Josik Memorial Hall in Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam to Witae Village in Okjong-myeon, Hadong-gun. It is 9.7km long, takes about 4 hours, and has a difficulty level of 'medium.'

After touring the Nammyung Josik Memorial Hall and walking about 2km along the Deokcheon River stream, you will reach Deoksan Market, the most famous market in Deoksan. Since the mid-Joseon period, the areas of Samjang-myeon and Sacheon-myeon were called 'Deoksandong,' where the Deoksan Market was held every five days. It was a commercial hub frequently visited even by residents living near Cheonwangbong, the main peak of Jirisan. Various medicinal herbs, wild vegetables, chestnuts, dried persimmons, and strawberries gathered from Jirisan were popular items.

After exploring Deoksan Market and crossing Cheonpyeonggyo Bridge, walking south along the tributary of the Deokcheon River leads to Jungtae Village. Jungtae Village has long been famous for producing 'dak paper,' a traditional Korean paper made from the bark of the paper mulberry tree. Nowadays, since dak paper is rarely used, persimmon trees have replaced the paper mulberry trees. Jungtae Village holds the painful history of the Donghak Peasant Revolution. Some of the Donghak peasant army who were defeated in the Battle of Ugeumchi fought bravely here against the pursuing government troops. At that time, villagers secretly buried the bodies of the peasant soldiers in a nearby valley to hide them from the government troops so that their families could later find them. The valley where the peasant soldiers were temporarily buried is still called ‘Gajanggol.’ Jungtae Village has a 'Jirisan Dulle-gil Jungtae Information Center' for travelers.

From Jungtae Village, climbing about 3km over a mountain pass leads to Yujeom Village, located just below the mountain peak. In the past, it was called Notjeomgol because it was a village where brassware (yugi) was made. Currently, traces of brassware production have disappeared, and since 1938, members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church have settled here, so it is also called the ‘Adventist Village.’

Leaving the forest road from Yujeom Village and entering a mountain trail, you encounter 'Jungtaejae,' the most challenging uphill section of this course. Jungtaejae has an elevation of about 400m and is the watershed boundary between Sancheong in Gyeongnam and Hadong. Residents of Deoksan crossed this pass to obtain salt, and people from Hadong traveled here to visit Deoksan Market. It is called Jungtaejae in Sancheong and Witaejae in Hadong. At the pass, there are remains of terraced rice paddies cultivated by former slash-and-burn farmers. Bamboo forests also spread around the area.

Crossing Jungtaejae leads to the final destination of this course, Witae Village. This village was formerly called Sangchon. The original name of Sangchon was Galtim Village. The name Galti comes from the name of the pass Galchi (葛峙), which connects here to Naegong-ri, Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong-gun. This pass was used by merchants visiting Deoksan Market. During the Japanese colonial period, it was developed into a road accessible by vehicles to transport charcoal. When the village was incorporated from Cheongam-myeon into Okjong-myeon, it was renamed Witae-ri to distinguish it from Sangchon Village in Cheongnyong-ri, Okjong-myeon. It consists of several small villages such as Anmol, Jungmol, and Goejeongji.