Certain sections of the East-West Trail will begin pilot operation this month.
The Korea Forest Service announced on October 14 that, starting from October 15, it will pilot 17 out of the total 55 sections (244 km) of the East-West Trail.
The East-West Trail is a long-distance forest path (totaling 849 km) connecting Taean County in South Chungcheong Province and Uljin County in North Gyeongsang Province, allowing for backpacking and hiking. Construction began in 2023, with 20 km in Uljin (section 55) completed that year, followed by 57 km in Taean (sections 1 to 4) and 15 km in Bonghwa (section 47) last year, and this year 49 km in Hongseong (sections 9 to 12) and 103 km in Bonghwa and Uljin (sections 48 to 54) were completed sequentially.
The pilot opening is significant as it marks the first step in fully introducing a long-distance trail culture in Korea. To explore sections 52 to 55, which remain restricted during the pilot operation, advance reservations are required through the Forest Trip website starting at 10 a.m. on October 14.
The Korea Forest Service aims for the East-West Trail to become a new forest path culture in Korea, where people can walk, stay, and experience, similar to long-distance trails overseas.
In particular, the East-West Trail is not a simple imitation of overseas examples but is a "K-long-distance trail" that incorporates Korean history, culture, and daily life. It is expected to revitalize rural and fishing villages and contribute to increasing local residents' income.
Through the pilot operation, the Korea Forest Service plans to gather on-site feedback from users, improve safety management, information services, and operational systems, and complete the entire trail by next year. The full opening of all sections is expected to be possible by 2027.
Once the entire East-West Trail is open, the Korea Forest Service plans to actively attract international tourists and develop it into Korea's representative long-distance trail, recognized worldwide.
Kim Inho, Commissioner of the Korea Forest Service, stated, "The East-West Trail is not just about connecting forest paths, but also about linking villages and people, serving as a bridge between regions and communities. We will strive to ensure that the East-West Trail becomes a long-distance trail Korea can proudly compare with any in the world."
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