[One Day Walk] Crossing the Fence, Roaming the Gimpo Plain... Gyeonggi Dullegil Gimpo Course 3

17.2km from Aegibong Entrance to Jeollyuri Port

The Gimpo Course 3 of the Gyeonggi Dullegil Trail stretches from the entrance of Aegibong to Jeollyuri Port. It is not difficult to walk, but it is 17.2 km long and takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes.

The journey begins at the entrance of Aegibong. Located at 155 meters, Aegibong has a story passed down through generations. During the Byeongjahoran (the Second Manchu invasion of Korea), the Pyeongan Governor fled toward the capital Hanyang with his concubine 'Aegi.' However, the governor was captured by the Qing army in Gaepung County across the river, while only Aegi crossed the Han River. Aegi waited for the governor’s return but eventually fell ill and died, asking to be buried on a peak where she could see her beloved. In 1966, President Park Chung-hee heard this story and said, "It is like the sorrow of our separated families who cannot cross a single river," naming the peak Aegibong and erecting a monument.

Seoktan-ri Migratory Bird Observatory (Photo by Gyeonggi-do)

At Aegibong, Gimpo City has newly developed a Peace Ecological Park with an exhibition hall and an observatory. From here, you can see the propaganda village of Gaepung County in North Korea up close. The barbed wire visible along the Han River near the Peace Ecological Park and this trail reminds visitors of the reality of division.

Walking from Aegibong, you will come across the village hall of Mageunpo-ri. The origin of the place name 'Mageunpo-ri (麻近浦里)' is also interesting. There used to be tidal channels (gaetgol) extending to neighboring villages such as Majo-ri, Sugok-dong, Yangtaek-ri, and Yangjon-dong. After these tidal channels were blocked, the area was called 'blocked tidal channel' or 'blocked gae,' which was written in Chinese characters as Mageunpo (麻近浦). Another story says it was called Mageunpo because it was a port near the neighboring village of Magok Majo-ri. Magok Majo-ri produced a lot of hemp (ma, 麻), which was loaded onto boats and transported elsewhere through this port.

On this trail, you can walk along narrow village paths and wide farm roads crossing the northern end of the Gimpo Peninsula, connecting various villages. The route passes through several villages from Gageum-ri to Jeollyu-ri. Especially in autumn, walking these farm roads allows you to take in the golden fields of Gimpo in full view.

Along the farm roads, the Seoktan-ri migratory bird observatory and the Hupyeong-ri migratory bird habitat are also notable photo zones. Hupyeong-ri, in particular, is known as a place where the Han River meets the Gimpo Plain, providing abundant food for many migratory birds. You can observe egrets, great egrets, herons, and winter migratory birds such as the hooded crane. The black-faced spoonbill also occasionally visits.