[One Day Walk] Cultural Heritage Throughout the Fresh Forest Trails... Gimpo Course 58

8.6km from Gimpo Jangneungsan Rest Area to in front of Gimpo Saesol School

The Gimpo Course 58 of the Gyeonggi Dullegil is an 8.6 km trail that stretches from Jangneungsan Rest Area through Oeongburak Village to Saesol School. You can enjoy a refreshing forest walk and take in the expansive scenery of the Gimpo Plain.

Jangneungsan is a mountain that houses Gimpo Jangneung. Gimpo Jangneung is the tomb of Wonjong, the fifth son of King Seonjo of Joseon and father of King Injo, who was posthumously honored as king in 1632, and his wife Queen Inheon of the Gu clan. In 2009, 40 Joseon royal tombs, including Gimpo Jangneung, were designated as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites. This area features beautiful walking paths and a lake. Walking along the forest trail starting in front of the ticket office allows you to enjoy the changing natural beauty throughout the seasons. Especially due to Gimpo’s regional characteristics, airplanes are frequently visible, attracting many visitors who come to capture photos contrasting the royal tombs and airplanes.

This trail offers historical sites at various points. Leaving the forest trail at the foot of Jangneungsan behind Gimpo City Hall and walking along the village road, you will see Gimpo Hyanggyo. Gimpo Hyanggyo is a building that well represents the late Joseon period hyanggyo style, featuring Daeseongjeon, where ancestral rites for Confucian sages are held every spring and autumn, and Myeongnyundang, an educational hall. It is said to have been first built during the Goryeo Dynasty and has undergone several restorations since the 1960s. It was designated as a Gyeonggi-do cultural heritage site in 1983.

Nearby is Gimpo Catholic Church. The first church in Gimpo was established in 1900. At that time, the church was a chapel (a smaller church than a parish) of Yak-hyeon Cathedral. The name Gimpo Catholic Church has been used since 1949. After 1950, a new site was secured and construction of the main church building began, but due to the Korean War, the building was only completed in December 1956. It is a Gothic-style stone church designated as a registered cultural heritage. In 1999, a separate main church building was constructed, and this building is currently used as an education center.

Continuing along the path, you will encounter the Gimpo Main Canal. From here, you cross about 2 km of the Gimpo Plain. At the end of the fields is Geumbit Neighborhood Park. From here, the trail ascends a hill through a forest path. It is a friendly path where you can often meet residents who regularly take walks. Descending this hill, you will see the final destination of this journey, Gimpo Saesol School.