[Harumanbo] Haeparang Trail Course 8 Connecting Forest Paths and Coastline

‘Haepalanggil’ is a 750km walking trail consisting of a total of 50 courses, connecting coastal paths, forest trails, and village roads along the East Coast from Oryukdo Sunrise Park in Busan to the Unification Observatory in Goseong, Gangwon Province.

Haepalanggil is a compound word combining the East Sea’s symbol, the ‘rising sun,’ the blue color of the sea ‘parang,’ and the particle ‘rang,’ meaning ‘together.’ It signifies ‘a path where you walk together with the sound of waves, gazing at the rising sun and the blue sea.’

Course 8 of Haepalanggil starts from Yeompo Samgeori and passes Ulsan Bridge, Bangojin Port, and Daewangam Park, ending at Ilsan Beach. It is a 12.4km section that takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes to walk.

From the starting point at Yeompo Mountain Entrance, after walking 3.9km, you reach the Ulsan Bridge Observatory. From the observatory, you can view Ulsan Bridge, which opened in May 2015 and is the longest single-span suspension bridge in Korea and the third longest in Asia, as well as Ulsan’s three major industries?petrochemical, automobile, and shipbuilding complexes?and the seven famous mountains of Ulsan. The daytime view of Ulsan and the nighttime view of the industrial complex and city lights offer a unique pleasure.

Leaving the Ulsan Bridge Observatory, the course heads toward Bangojin Port. Bangojin Port was the largest port on the East Coast, thriving as a fishing base in the early 1900s, with traces of modern history from 100 years ago still visible throughout the area. Seongkkeut Village at the end of Bangojin Port is decorated as a mural village, and nearby at the Ulsan Fisheries Cooperative Auction Hall, you can watch fresh seafood caught by fishing boats arriving at dawn being auctioned.

Afterward, the course follows the coast through Daewangam Park to Ilsan Beach. Daewangam Park is home to Daewangam, one of the earliest places in Korea where the sun rises, along with Ganjeolgot in Ulju County. The path from the park entrance to the lighthouse is a 600m forest trail shaded by pine trees. This location is also famous as a filming site for dramas, making it a great spot for commemorative photos.

Adjacent to Daewangam Park, Ilsan Beach is an urban beach where you can enjoy a panoramic sea view during the day and city nightscapes in the evening. The Starlight Plaza at the beach offers a resting area with soft lighting and a view of the sea, making it a popular spot throughout all four seasons.