[One Day Walk] "Soaked in Pine Nut 'Phytoncide'"... Gapyeong Jat Hyanggi Phytoncide Trail

[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 these premium forest trails provided by the Korea Forest Service.

Today’s 10,000-step course is the ‘Jathyanggi Phytoncide Trail’ located within Jathyanggi Pureun Forest in Gyeonggi-do.

Jathyanggi Pureun Forest is a 153-hectare forest recreation area located at the foothills of Chukryeongsan Mountain (879m above sea level) and Seorisan Mountain (825m above sea level) in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do. It has been open to the public since 2014, and the Gyeonggi Forest Environment Research Institute has been managing the forest since April 2020.

The history of this forest dates back to the Japanese colonial period. It is said that in the 1920s, the Japanese established Gapyeong-gun as a seed production site for Korean pine trees, which became the foundation of Jathyanggi Pureun Forest.

Currently, it is known to the public as the largest Korean pine tree colony in the country, with Korean pines over 90 years old forming a dense cluster.

The geographical characteristics of Gapyeong-gun also contributed to Jathyanggi Pureun Forest becoming a natural arboretum dominated by Korean pine trees.

Winter scenery of the Pine Nut Scent Phytoncide Trail covered with snow. Provided by the Korea Forest Service.

Gapyeong-gun is located in an inland mountainous area with a large temperature difference between day and night and maintains relatively low temperatures even in winter compared to other regions. These geographical features meet the growth conditions for Korean pine trees, which thrive in high mountainous areas, making it easy to encounter Korean pines anywhere in Gapyeong-gun.

In 1972, the Korean pine tree was designated as a symbol of the pure character and integrity of the people of Gapyeong-gun. This highlights the deep connection between Gapyeong-gun and the Korean pine tree.

The Jathyanggi Phytoncide Trail is a forest trail created by linking a 6.57 km circular forest road and a 1 km barrier-free sharing path, allowing visitors to enjoy both recreation and walking travel within Jathyanggi Pureun Forest.

One of the trail’s attractive points is that in spring, visitors can walk along paths lined with blooming azaleas, and in winter, they can enjoy the phytoncides emitted by the Korean pine trees.

Scenery of Jat Hyanggi Phytoncide Trail in full bloom with azaleas in spring. Provided by Korea Forest Service

In particular, the average annual concentration of phytoncides here was confirmed to be the highest among 15 forest recreation sites in Gyeonggi-do (according to a 2014 announcement by the Gyeonggi Institute of Health and Environment), and it is said that many visitors come to improve environmental diseases such as rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis.

At Jathyanggi Phytoncide Trail, programs such as forest healing, forest interpretation, prenatal forest therapy, forest experience for young children, and woodworking experiences are offered, providing an advantage to enjoy the forest more effectively as a natural resource. Participation in these programs is possible by reservation through the ‘Gyeonggi Nongjeong’ website.

If you visit the Jathyanggi Phytoncide Trail, visiting the ‘Chukryeong Baekrim Hall,’ an exhibition hall related to pine nuts, will add meaning to your exploration by revisiting the cultural coexistence history between the pine nut harvesting culture of the Gapyeong-gun community and the local community and forest resources.

Provided by Korea Forest Service

Main stops: Phytoncide Trail - Forest Experience Center for Young Children - Healing Center - Hwajeonmin Village - Chukryeong Baekrim Hall - Jathyanggi Phytoncide Trail

Course length: 6.57 km

Estimated time: 2 hours 30 minutes