[One Day Walk] Walking Along Tea Plantation Paths and Fields from Hadong-eup to Seodang

Estimated Duration 2 Hours 30 Minutes
Difficulty Classified as 'Medium'

Editor's NoteJirisan is the first national park designated in the Republic of Korea, a mountain with an elevation of 1915m. The mountain range spans Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do, and is considered a sacred mountain of the nation. 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 length of 300 km and is as generous as a father's embrace.

The Jirisan Dulle-gil section from Hadong-eup to Seodang is a route where you can feel the tea plantation paths and fields. In spring, you can smell the strong scent of plum blossoms in the mountains. The distance is 7 km, relatively short, making it good for a walk like a stroll. The expected duration is about 2 hours and 30 minutes, and the difficulty level is 'medium.'

The start point is at the 'Jirisan Dulle-gil Hadong Center.' Hadong Station and Hadong Bus Terminal are about a 30-minute walk away, so you can take public transportation and start walking immediately. Hadong-eup has a five-day market and convenience facilities such as restaurants, attracting many tourists. Nearby along the Seomjin River, there is the Hadong Pine Forest, a resting place with a white sandy beach and old pine trees.

Passing through the quaint neighborhood behind the Hadong Center, you will find wide fields. Hadong, along with Gurye, embraces Jirisan and is located along the Seomjin River. There are wide fields where the mountain and river meet, called 'Neobaengi-deul.'

Passing through the tea tree forest path that indicates Hadong is a hometown of green tea, you arrive at Baramjae. Baramjae is a pass that connects Hadong Bamgol and Jeokryang Bamgol. It is called Baramjae because it is a place where the wind is frequent. From Baramjae, there is a connection to the trail leading to Bunjibong Peak.

After passing Baramjae and walking downhill while looking at the fields, you reach Yulgok Village. Yulgok is named because of the many chestnut trees. It is a village embraced by a mountain ridge extending south from Gujaebong Peak.

Gwandong Village is the oldest among the four villages managed by Jeokryang-myeon. It is said to have been called 'Naurae' in the past. Until the late Joseon period, it was one of the main routes from Hadong to Jinju-mok.

Passing through Sangwoo Village, which has many chestnut orchards, you will reach Seodang Village, the last point of this section. Although no traces of the Seodang (village school) remain, it is known that there was a Seodang in the center of Hamdeotgeori and the large bamboo grove in Dwitgol, where traps were set to catch tigers. In spring, villagers would predict the success of their farming in front of the Ippap tree that protects the village. It is said that if many flowers bloom on the lower side of the tree, there will be little rain, and if many bloom on the upper side, it will rain frequently.