Following the autumn colors, I feel like touching Mt. Geumgang 

– Yanggu Pyeonghwa Nurigil

“You'll be checked-up for a moment.”

Last October 14th, 8 A.M. at the foot of a mountain at Yanggu county, Gangwon province.

A busload stops at the checkpoint.

After getting the signal “Pass” from a guard, the bus is rushing toward the mountain.

Now we’re going into Pyeonghwa Nurigil, which is a restricted area for civilians.

Into the forest walkway with the glow of autumn leaves

Last October 14^th, Yanggu county in Gangwon province has held the ‘Event : Walking the old path into Mt. Geumgang’.  The total walking distance is 9 km out of Pyeonghwa Nurigil, which is from Biduk hill through Haya bridge to Dutayeon.

Pyeonghwa Nurigil is a restricted area for civilians, and therefore has kept the primitive nature.

As usual, we must go through regular procedure in order to get there, but this path was opened only for today’s event.

The path begins at Bidung military company.

About 3,000 people departed from military trading ground at 9 A.M.

It seems fresh breeze through crystal clear sky and warm sunlight looks like waving and saying “Come on in”.

The early 2 km is downhill and I enjoy walking lightly along with a gentle slope.

Sometimes I am attracted by beautiful autumn colors.

The sight of red leaves, covering the whole mountain, can be enjoyed only in the fall.

The autumn colors of Yanggu Pyeonghwa Nurigil is much louder than any other place. The reason is, no one can be allowed here for many years.

Primitive forest walkway on minefield

I see the notices “mine” on either side of the road. The vestiges of war.

Looking at the iron-fences reminds me that the war was not over yet.

Koreans, living in a state of armistice, feel the pain whenever saying “Pyeonghwa Nurigil” ; Pyeonghwa(평화) in Korean means Peace.

Imaging what happened in this earth long time ago, I feel heavy-hearted.

I make a few steps deeply and softly like consoling the earth.

I sit down on a bench for a while, drinking a little water.

There are enough facilities like many rest areas and public restrooms.

The forest, surrounding Yanggu Pyeonghwa Nurigil, is pretty dense and deep, therefore you may not see this scenery anywhere else.

Sometimes you can meet wild animals like elks or wild pigs.

Without mines blocking people, we might not keep this forest like this.

I feel like reaching Mt. Geumgang if I go straight along this way

The walking event was held on the road route 31, which is the national highway leading from Busan to South Hamgyong province.

Now this road was cut off at Dong-myeon in Yanggu county which is the demilitarized zone. If you follow this road, you can reach Mt. Geumgang.

During the Japanese occupation, inhabitants of Yanggu county could go to Mt. Geumgang on foot. It means it’s very close.

At Haya bridge, I meet the Suyip creek which is one of the streams flowing from Mt. Geumgang.

Everyone looks at the valley containing the painfully clear water in admiration.

If only turning to the North, I could get to the Mt. Geumgana.

But I have to turn back. Real shame not to go further to the North.

At last I reach Dutayeon, whose pouring stream makes me forget words.

It is a small waterfall whose height is only 10m, but it’s magnificent along with bizarre rocks wrapped around blue-violet pond.

Dutayeon is famous for the largest habitat of Lenok, Korean national monument No.74.

Lenoks go to upstream back to the Dutayeon waterfall on spawning season.

Can you imagine that Lenoks keep hopping along a waterway toward Mt. Geumgang.

How wonderful I can reach the Geumgang mountain without a break like Lenoks.

People who think like me feel a sense of unity.

The event was ended by looking back on the memory of patriotic martyrs for the country.

The Event of ‘Walking the old path into Geumgang Mountain’ is held every fall, with the period of ‘Yangrok-je’ which is the festival for inhabitants of Ganggu county. Join this event, and you can taste the essence of the Pyeonghwa Nurigil.

Do you want to see the secret jewels of Dutayeon, autumn colors of Haya bridge and roads leading Geumgang mountain? Why don’t you come to Yanggu Pyeonghwa Nurigil next fall?