[One Day Walk] 'One Lap per Order'... Ganghwa Nadeulgil Course 12

Course 12 of Ganghwa Nadeulgil is a route that circles Jumundo, a small island on the east side of Ganghwa Island. Since there is no bridge connecting it to the mainland, you must take a boat from Ganghwa Island to get there. The course starts at Jumundo Dock where the boat arrives, then passes Baeneomeo Hill, Jumun Reservoir, Jumunjin, Seodo Central Church, Haehaehwa Cluster, Dwitjangsul Beach, and Gomai before returning to the dock. The nickname of Course 12 is "Jumundo Road," reflecting the course's characteristics. It is 11.3 km long and takes about 3 hours to complete.

Since the Joseon Dynasty until the late Joseon period, Jumundo played an important role as an advanced base for traveling to China. Because of this, it was also the first place where British Anglican priests conducted missionary activities, marking the introduction of Western culture. The origin of the island's name, Jumundo (注文島), is most famously said to come from the mid-Joseon military commander Im Gyeong-eop, who, when departing as an envoy to the Ming Dynasty, submitted a written report to the king, originally calling it Jomundo (奏文島), meaning "the island where a report was submitted," which later changed to the current name meaning "the island where a written order was made." However, records in the Sejong Sillok Jiriji already refer to the island as Jumundo at that time, suggesting this story may not be accurate. There are also stories that envoys traveling to China before Im Gyeong-eop submitted reports to the king in Hanyang, or etymological theories that the name means "an island with a high mountain."

Walking south from Jumun Port, you pass Baeneomeo Hill, Jumun Reservoir, and Jumunjin before reaching Seodo Central Church. Although it is a church, Seodo Central Church has a unique appearance in the form of a traditional Korean hanok. Established in 1905, it is praised for its blend of soft Eastern curves and splendid Western architectural beauty, making it both simple and magnificent. However, the current appearance is from 1923 when the church members of Jumundo collected donations to rebuild it. The wood and roof tiles were brought from Ganghwa Island, and the stone-decorated walls feature shapes such as human faces and fish.

Walking along the west coast of Jumundo, you will encounter the vast Dwitjangsul Beach. "Jangsul" means "a hill where sand accumulates to form a long white sand beach that blocks waves." The name comes from calling the northern beach "Apjangsul" and the southern beach "Dwitjangsul." The wide mudflats exposed at low tide are home to various seafood such as clams, allowing visitors to enjoy both swimming and clam digging experiences. At peak low tide, it even connects to Daebinchang Beach to the north.

From the end of Dwitjangsul Beach, the Nadeulgil trail enters a hill path. Passing through a forested hill, you can once again enjoy the expansive scenic views of Jumundo's northern coastline. Finally, returning to Jumundo Dock and taking the boat back to Ganghwa Island marks the end of today's course.