Korea's First Long-Distance Backpacking Forest Trail Opens in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province

20.56 km Yeongju Section of Dongseo Trail Completed
Korea's First Long-Distance Backpacking Forest Trail Now Fully Operational in Yeongju

Yeongju City in North Gyeongsang Province has completed the construction of the Yeongju section of the 'Dongseo Trail,' Korea's first long-distance backpacking forest trail, and is beginning full-scale operations. On June 19, Yeongju City announced that it had finished work on all three sections of the trail, totaling 20.56 kilometers in length.

The 'Dongseo Trail' is a large-scale project led by the Korea Forest Service, spanning a total length of 849 kilometers. It traverses the southern part of the Korean Peninsula from Anmyeondo in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, to Mangyangjeong in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province. From 2023 to 2026, five metropolitan cities and provinces and 21 cities, counties, and districts are participating, with the goal of opening the entire route.

This trail is the first in Korea to allow backpacking, where hikers carry their own camping equipment, making it a new type of forest trail that enables not only simple walking tours but also overnight stays and extended stays in nature.

After conducting feasibility assessments, designing, and route designation, Yeongju City began construction in December 2024, investing a total project cost of 438 million won. The trail consists of: ▲ Section 40-2, 5.23 km around the Dosan-ri Forest Healing Center in Bonghyeon-myeon; ▲ Section 41-1, 8.41 km from Dosan-ri in Bonghyeon-myeon to Jeonguri, Changnak-ri, and Sucheol-ri Juknyeong Old Road in Punggi-eup; ▲ Section 46-2, 6.92 km in the Namdae-ri area of Buseok-myeon.

Among these, the backpacking rest area established within the National Forest Healing Center serves as a key hub for the Yeongju section, providing users with both a comfortable resting space and experiential content. Travelers walking along the forest trail can directly experience Yeongju's abundant natural environment and cultural heritage.

Yeongju City plans to invest an additional 365 million won by 2026 to further enhance convenience and safety facilities for each section and to improve signposts and other follow-up measures.

Kim Duseop, Director of the Yeongju City Forest Division, stated, "The Dongseo Trail has been created not as a simple walking path, but as an experiential forest trail that connects the region's history, culture, and nature. We will actively utilize Yeongju's unique forest resources to serve as a catalyst for revitalizing local tourism."