Byeonsan Masil-gil
Citizens walking along Byeonsan Masil-gil [2013]Taken in 2013, this photo shows citizens walking along the Byeonsan Masil-gil.
Mohang Coast of Byeonsan Masil-gil Course 5 [2012]Taken in 2012, this photo shows the Mohang Tideland Trail, which belongs to Byeonsan Masil-gil Course 5. The 5.4 km-long Course 5 route extends from Solseom Island to Mohang Beach.
Byeonsan Masil-gil Course 1This photo shows the area around the village of Hapgu, which belongs to Byeonsan Masil-gil Course 1. The Course 1 route, Jogaemi Paechong Trail, stretches from the Masil Road Information Center to Hapgu, Daehang-ri, Shell Midden, Pavilion (Sunset Park of Love), Byeonsan Beach, and Songpo Port.
General Information Map of Byeonsan Masil-gilThis is the general information map of Byeonsan Masil-gil.
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LocationBoan-myeon, Jinseo-myeon, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryTour/ Natural Environment
- Korean변산 마실길
- Chinese邊山-
- Nickname부안 변산 마실길
- FieldGeography / Human Geography
- Contents TypePlace Name / Facility
- Current LocationBoan-myeon, Jinseo-myeon, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- A public nature trail that extends across Byeonsan-myeon, Jinseo-myeon, and Boan-myeon in Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
- Summary
- The Byeonsan Masil-gil is a series of eight nature trails that follow the coastal road of the Byeonsan Peninsula, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do. The eight courses include the Jogaemi Paechong Trail, Norumok Sangsahwa Trail, Jeokbyeokgang Sunset Trail, Haeneomi Solseom Trail, Mohang Tideland Trail, Ssanggyejae Ahopgubi Trail, and Cheongjagol Nature Trail.
- Development
- The construction of the Byeonsan Masil-gil began along the coastal road of the Byeonsan Peninsula in 2009. The first section was opened in June 2009, and the entire section of the road running from the Saemangeum Embankment to the Julpoman Tideland Ecological Park was opened in April 2011. The section from the Saemangeum Exhibition Hall to Gyeokpo Port was chosen as a coastal trail by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in November 2011, and as one of Korea’s Top Five Trails in 2021.
In 2020, Buan-gun launched a project to build a smart tourism information platform service for the Buan Masil-gil. The service is designed to enable tourists to find the Masil-gil information using a beacon, QR code, and Smartphone and to report emergency situations. The Buan Masil Festival has been held every year since 2014 as a street festival where residents and visitors can enjoy Buan’s beautiful natural environment of mountains, fields, and sea and experience the rich local cuisine.
- Composition
- Course 1. Jogaemi Paechong Trail
This 5.1-km-long trail starts from the Saemangeum Project Office, passes via the Masil-gil Information Center, Hapgu, Shell Midden in Daehang-ri, Octagonal Pavilion (Sunset Park of Love), and Byeonsan Beach, and ends at Songpo Port. It is a relatively easy course that takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to complete.
Walkers can choose between the hillside road, which has a gentle slope and contains the vestiges of an old military guard post built to prevent the infiltration of North Korean spies in the 1960s, and the coastal road, which can be followed only at low tide. Walkers can explore the Shell Midden in Daehang-ri, which contains the remains of diverse shellfish from the West Sea, and appreciate the splendid landscape of Byeonsan Beach viewed from the Sunset Park of Love. From May to June, walkers can enjoy beautiful wild roses and daisies in full bloom on Courses 1 and 2.
2. Course 2. Norumok Sangsahwa Trail
This trail allows hikers to walk along Buan’s characteristic coastline. As autumn approaches in September, walkers will find the natural habitat of reddish-yellow surprise lilies near a guard post surrounded by a barbed-wire fence.
This 5.3-km-long trail takes in Songpo Port, Seonbi Village, a colony of reddish-yellow surprise lilies, Norimok, Gosapo Beach, and Seongcheon Port. It is a very easy walk that takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete. The trail also includes Samangam Rock, which is related with a story about a seonbi (classical scholar). According to a local legend, the seonbi was exiled here during a period of turmoil caused by the reign of potentates and a weakening of the king’s authority, and died while waiting for his time and looking in the direction of the king. After Samangam Rock, walkers will come to Gosapo Beach, which commands a surperb view of Ongnyeobong Peak, stretching towards the seaside, and arrive at Seongcheon Port after passing through a pine forest.
3. Course 3. Jeokbyeokgang Sunset Trail
This is the Byeonsan Masil-gil’s representative course. The 9.8-km-long trail takes in Seongcheon Port, Haseom Observatory, Banwol, Jageundang Dune, Jeokbyeokgang River, Suseongdang Shrine, Gyeokpo Beach, Chaeseokgang Cliff, and Gyeokpo Port. It is moderately difficult and takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete. The trail passes by various local tourist attractions including Chaeseokgang Cliff, Gyeokpo Beach, Suseongdang Shrine (Jeollabuk-do Tangible Cultural Heritage No. 58, a ritual site in Jukmak-dong, Buan), and the old guard post and barbed-wire fence, the symbol of a divided nation. Walkers can appreciate seasonal flowers such as rape flowers, Mexican Asters (cosmos), red spider lilies, and daisies, and discover the sea road of Haseom which appears six times a month depending on the tide.
4. Course 4. Haeneomi Solseom Trail
This 5.7-km-long trail takes in Gyeokpo Port, Gyeokpo-ri Beacon, Filming Location of Jeolla Jwasuyeong (Left Naval Headquarters), Gunghang Port, Sangnok Beach, and Solseom Island. It is moderately difficult and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete. Walkers can appreciate the magnificent scenery of the Byeonsan Peninsula from the Gyeokpo-ri Beacon after passing by Gyeokpo Port, and will arrive at the filming location of Jeolla Jwasuyeong (Left Naval Headquarters), where the Korean TV series Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin was filmed. After passing by Gunghang Port and Sangnok Beach, walkers will enjoy the beautiful sunset of the West Sea at Solseom Island, which attracts photographers from all over the country.
5. Course 5. Mohang Tideland Trail
This 5.4-km-long trail takes in Solseom Island, Yongmuldong, Songsan Farm, Forest Training Center, Mohang Beach, and Tideland Experience Center. It is moderately difficult and takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete. When heading south after Solseom Island, walkers will find interesting rocks along the seashore and pensions of different colors along Mohang Beach, which boasts beautiful white sand, accommodation and resort facilities, and a pine colony, attracting many campers. The Population of Horned Hollies in Docheong-ri, Buan (Natural Monument No. 122) is located nearby, and tourists can enjoy various tideland experiences and visit the vast mud flat at low tide.
6. Course 6. Ssanggyejae Ahopgubi Trail
This 6.5km-long trail starts from the Tideland Experience Center, passes via Geumgang Family Town, Ssanggyejae Pass, Madong Embankment, and the village of Jakdang Village, and ends at Wangpo. It is relatively difficult and takes about 2 hours to complete. The trail is an eco-friendly path offering a variety of seasonal attractions such as red spider lilies and the Sinudae Tunnel Road. Surrounding attractions include the Hwimok Art Gallery, Naesosa Temple, Gomso Salt Field, and Buan Silkworm Town, which provides various experience and educational activities. However, as the level of difficulty is relatively high, it is difficult for the children and the elderly and infirm.
7. Course 7. Gomso Saltern Trail
This 6.5 km-long trail starts at the village of Wangpo, passes via the villages of Unho, Gwanseon and Jakdo, then Gomso Port, and ends at the Salt Field. It is moderately difficult, and takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete. The trail follows the embankment road, which was built by blocking the vast tideland. Upon arriving at Gomso Port, walkers can enjoy a local specialty such as Gomso Jeotgal Baekban (a set menu with a bowl of rice and side dishes of fermented food) at the Gomso Jeotgal Market and visit the Gomso Salt Field.
8. Course 8. Cheongjagol Nature Trail
This 9.5km-long trail starts at the village of Gujin, which displays traces of the old agricultural way of life, passes via Manhwacheon Stream, Yeongjeonje, a home to migratory birds, a celadon kiln site, and the Ramsar Wetland Site, and ends at the Julpoman Tideland Ecological Park. It is relatively difficult and takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes to complete. After leaving the Ramsar Wetland Site, walkers will arrive at the Julpoman Tideland Ecological Park, which was established to protect the abandoned tideland from pollution and preserve the wetland. As myriad microorganisms help to preserve the local ecology, this tideland is also called “the kidneys of the West Coast”. The ecological park provides various ecological wetland experience programs at its reed field, wild flower garden, and Sun Road. The Celadon Museum and the Kiln Site of Yucheon-ri, Buan are located nearby.
- Current Status
- Hikers will find a sign indicating the starting point of the Byeonsan Masil-gil directly behind the Saemangeum Project Office. Parking is available in front of the Saemangeum Project Office. The most important thing to remember when walking along the Byeonsan Masil-gil is to know the times of the tides, because the road is exposed at low tide, while at high tide seawater enters the shore, and the road disappears or becomes muddy, making walking difficult.
There are two Byeonsan Masil-gil Information Centers – the Banwol Information Center, which is located at the starting point of the trail near the Saemangeum Project Office, and the Gyeokpo Information Center.