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LocationByeonsan-myeon, Haseo-myeon, Sangseo-myeon, Boan-myeon, Jinseo-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryTour/ Park
- Korean변산반도 국립 공원
- Chinese邊山半島國立公園
- FieldGeography / Human Geography
- Contents TypePlace Name / Facility
- Original LocationByeonsan-myeon, Haseo-myeon, Sangseo-myeon, Boan-myeon, Jinseo-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Current Location11, Bangpaje-gil Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- A national park located in the Byeonsan Peninsula, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
- Summary
- According to the Samguk yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), as Byeonsan Mountain was originally located in the land of Baekje, the area was named “Byeonhan.” Byeonsan Mountain, one of the five major mountains in Honam (southwestern region of Korea), is also known as Neunggasan, Yeongjusan, and Bongnaesan among its other names. In Taengniji (A Guide to Selecting Village Sites), it is recorded that “Byeonsan has many peaks and valleys. The outer area of Byeonsan is suitable for making salt and fishing, while the mountainous area has many fertile fields that are suitable for farming. Residents cut wood on the mountains and fish and make salt at the foot of the mountains, and there is an abundance of wood and seafood in the area.” Since ancient times, Byeonsan has been regarded as one of ten excellent sites (sipseungjiji) for settlement in Korea. In addition, Byeonsan was at the center of the Baekje revival movement in which Baekje migrants fought against Silla and the Tang Dynasty of China, and is the scene of various legends and tales.
- Background of Construction
- Byeonsanbando National Park was designated in order to preserve and exploit sustainably both the natural ecosystem and environment and the cultural and historical heritages in the Byeonsan Peninsula.
- Development
- The mountainous area of Byeonsan-myeon in Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do was designated as a provincial park on December 2, 1971. This was followed by the designation of Byeonsanbando National Park as Korea’s nineteenth national park on June 11, 1988 in recognition of the area’s splendid natural landscape, historical and cultural resources, and local land and marine resources, and the opening of the Byeonsanbando National Park Office on October 1, 1988.
- Composition
- Byeonsanbando National Park is situated on a peninsula where mountains and sea naturally coexist. As such, it is divided into a mountainous area called Inner Byeonsan (Naebyeonsan) and a coastal area called Outer Byeonsan (Oebyeonsan). The park covers a total area of 153.934km2, of which the inland area accounts for 89% and the sea area 11%. The park consists of mountains, coast, and sea, although the land area is proportionally larger than that of other national parks that include sea. The Byeonsan Peninsula has a maritime climate that is warm and rainy, with large differences in temperature between the mountainous Inner Byeonsan and coastal Outer Byeonsan areas.
Inner Byeonsan is characterized by a mountainous topography consisting of Uisabong (509m, the highest peak), Sinseonbong (486m), Samsinsan (486m), Ssangseonbong (459m), Ognyeobong (432.7m), Gwaneumbong (424.5m), and Sangyeobong (395m), and a fluvial topography composed of Jikso Falls, Bongnaegok, Seonnyeotang, Bunokdam, Waryongso, and Gamaso. Its central water course is the Baekcheon Stream, which flows to the west coast after converging with tributaries from Junggye Valley, Hoeyang Valley, and Bongnae Valley.
Outer Byeonsan mainly consists of coastal areas such as Byeonsan Beach, Gosapo Beach, and Gyeokpo Beach. The coast of Outer Byeonsan is mainly rocky, and its representative geological features are Chaeseokgang Cliff and the Jeokbyeokgang River. After a volcanic eruption at the end of the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic Era, volcanic rock was deposited in the sea, where it solidified and was then subjected to coastal erosion, resulting in very visible stratification. Coastal sand dunes have developed behind Gosapo Beach, and coastal topographical formations such as sea cliffs, wave-cut shelves, and sea caves can be observed along the sandy and rocky beaches.
The geological structure of Byeonsanbando National Park and its vicinity is composed of gneiss from the Proterozoic Era, granite from the Jurassic period from the Mesozoic Era, Buan Volcanic Rock and a Gyeokpori Layer from the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic Era, an intrusive dyke from the Mesozoic Era and the Cenozoic Era, and an alluvial layer from the Quaternary of the Cenozoic Era. The area represents the main characteristics of crustal movements on the Korean Peninsula, and contains major geological sites such as Chaeseokgang Cliff and the Jeokbyeokgang River. In recognition of its geological and topographical values, the area was designated as Jeollabuk-do West Coast National Geopark on September 13, 2017.
- Current Status
- Byeonsanbando National Park is jointly managed by three national park offices, namely the Naeso, Naebyeonsan and Sangseon branch offices. The Byeonsanbando National Park Office, which is located in Gyeokpo-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, provides various convenience services for visitors, including an introduction to and information on the park, and exhibitions and explanations of the related materials.
The Naeso Branch Office, located at the entrance to Naesosa Temple, is responsible for managing the Naeso area, which encompasses Jinseo-ri, Seokpo-ri, and Unho-ri in Jinseo-myeon, part of Udong-ri in Boan-myeon, and Docheong-ri and part of Mapo-ri in Byeonsan-myeon in Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
The Naebyeonsan Branch Office, located at the entrance to Silsangsa Temple, is in charge of managing the Naebyeonsan area, which encompasses Junggye-ri, Daehang-ri, Jiseo-ri, Unsan-ri, Gyeokpo-ri, and part of Mapo-ri in Byeonsan-myeon, and part of Cheongnim-ri in Sangseo-myeon in Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
The Sangseo Branch Office, located at the entrance to Gaeamsa Temple, is responsible for managing the Sangseo area, which encompasses Gamgyo-ri, Yongseo-ri, and Tongjeong-ri in Sangseo-myeon, Seoksang-ri and Baegnyeon-ri on Haseo-myeon, and part of Junggye-ri in Byeonsan-myeon in Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
The major walking/nature trails of Byeonsanbando National Park include the Ugeumam Course, Soeppulbawi Course, Naesosa Wonam Course, Naesosa Course, Gyeokpo Course, Naebyeonsan Namyeochi Course, Naebyeonsan Naesosa Course, Wonam Namyeochi Course, and Jiksopokpo Course.
The park’s flagship species are the Byeonsan winter aconite and the Buan spine loach. A flagship species is a species of animal or plant that represents a specific region, and is chosen to symbolize the regional ecosystem, landscape, or culture. Byeonsanbando National Park is developing as the main tourism base of the west coast along with the construction of Dongjindaegyo Bridge in 1978, Gyeokpo Port’s elevation to the status of first-class port in 1986, and the opening of the Seohaean Expressway via Buan in 2001.