GGC
Pocheon_National Arboretum
Green mother
The only place in the world capable of bearing people would be forest. The comfort and stability it offers is like the arms of my mother. Even the wind gently blowing in the forest pats my back as if it consoles me.
The official name of the forest that constitutes the National Arboretum is “Gwangneung Forest”, which has been preserved for about 530 years without much damage. Forming a temperate broadleaf climax forest, Gwangneung Forest was acknowledged of its global importance, and thus designated as a biosphere reserve zone by UNESCO in 2010. The right side of the sign standing at the entrance of the arboretum is the man-made artificial forest while the left side is the nature in its original form.
Built in the shape of a pyramid, Temperate House currently preserves about 300 species of plants growing in temperate and warm-temperate climate zones on the coastal areas of South Sea. After a short hike, you reach Forest Museum where you can find an extremely large zelkova tree inside. There is also a number of animal replicas manufactured to resemble their actual appearances as well as a multi-side theater, which plays videos explaining about the animals and trees once you approach it. The Tropical Plant Resources Research Center, boasting an overwhelmingly great size and a round shape, is constituted of the tropical plant and subtropical plant exhibition gardens where more than 3,000 species of plants are on display and under preservation. The hours for which the venue is open is fixed so it is recommended to check the hours of operation in advance either on the website or at the ticket office.
Before entering the “Forest Eco-trail” that has been established by the nature as untouched, everyone clears his/her throat. Stories say that our ancestors did so before they entered the forest as a sign of asking for a permission from its inhabitants, animals and plants. Following the commentator’s lead, I, too, stepped into the forest with “ahem!” along with other tourists.
Once you exit the Forest Eco-trail where the forest may be encountered as it is in a more intimate manner, Conifer Garden and Needle Fir Trail await the visitors. The air you inhale in the Needle Fir Trail is so refreshing that you feel as if just 5 minutes of breathing is enough to extend your lifespan by at least an hour. About 200m in length, the Needle Fir Trail at the National Arboretum is one of the three greatest of its kind in Korea.
Written and photos by Ko Yeon-joo
Website www.kna.go.kr
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National Arboretum
Address/ 415, Gwangneungsumogwon-ro, Soheul-eup, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
Contact/ 031-504-1088
Hours of operation/ 09:00-18:00 every day in summer (April-October), last admission at 17:00 09:00-17:00 every day in winter (November-March), last admission at 16:00
Closed on / Sundays and Mondays, New Year’s Day, Korean New Year’s and Chuseok holidays
Note/ Possible to visit after making a reservation in advance Takes approximately 2 hours for viewing the entire facility
Admission / Adults: 1,000 KRW Teenagers (between the age of 13 and 18): 700 KRW Children (between the age of 7 and 12): 500 KRW
Parking (based on 1 day)/ Buses: 5,000 KRW, Passenger cars: 3,000 KRW Small cars: 1,500 KRW, Two-wheeled cars: 1,000 KRW
Website/ www.kna.go.kr