Boseong Obongsan and Geomundo Suwolsan to Be Designated as Scenic Natural Heritage Sites

Striking Scenery of Pung Hyeolji and Camellia Forests...
National Heritage Administration Announces Designation Plan
Historical Significance of Guduljang Quarries and Geomundo Incident Sites

Yongchu Waterfall in Yongchu-dong [Cultural Heritage Administration]

The National Heritage Administration announced on the 16th that it will be giving advance notice of the designation of "Yongchudong and Kalbawi Area of Obongsan in Boseong" and "Suwolsan Area of Geomundo in Yeosu" as national scenic natural heritage sites. The agency plans to collect opinions from various sectors for one month and finalize the designation after a review by the Natural Heritage Committee.

The Yongchudong and Kalbawi area of Obongsan in Boseong has long been recorded as a scenic spot in various geographical books and anthologies, such as the "Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam" and "Dongguk Yeoji Ji." The area features striking rock formations such as Pung Hyeolji and Kalbawi, panoramic views of the southern coast's Deukryang Bay from the summit, and the beautiful landscape of Yongchu Falls and lush forests in the Yongchudong Valley. Pung Hyeolji is a unique landform where cool winds blow in summer and warm winds in winter.

The area is also home to numerous Buddhist relics, including a rock-carved Buddha on Kalbawi and the site of Gaeheungsa Temple. Records of ancestral rituals held here further add to its religious and folk significance. In addition, the region was known for quarrying Guduljang, a key material for Korea's traditional Ondol heating system. The well-preserved quarry sites and ox cart paths used for transporting Guduljang also provide significant industrial value.

Marine View Landscape of Suwolsan Mountain [Cultural Heritage Administration]

The Suwolsan area of Geomundo in Yeosu features a dense camellia forest along the trail that leads from Mokneomi to the Geomundo Lighthouse, offering a beautiful landscape during the blooming season. Between the trees, visitors can enjoy views of the dramatic coastal scenery with unusual rock formations and sunset vistas. In particular, from Gwanbaekjeong, a pavilion named for its view of the Geomundo Lighthouse perched on a cliff at the end of the trail and Baekdo Island, one can take in the sunrise and the designated scenic sites of Sangbaekdo and Habaekdo in Yeosu at a glance.

Located in the heart of the southern sea, this area has historically served as a key point in the southern coastal defense system and as a strategic stronghold. Notably, the 1885 Geomundo Incident and the construction of the first lighthouse on the southern coast played important roles in the history of maritime routes, modern maritime history, and international political history. The area is also ecologically valuable, home to southern coastal vegetation such as camellia, donnamu (Ilex integra), gwangnamu (Ligustrum japonicum), and dajeongkeumnamu (Eurya japonica), as well as bird species like the Japanese white-eye and the black pigeon.