Sohwanghaeng (小確幸) is a recently coined term that means “small but certain joy”. After encountering this word for the first time in an essay written by Murakami Haruki, I once pondered deeply about what small but certain joy is for me. Like Haruki who finds happiness in seeing his closet filled with clean, neatly folded underwear, our joy is not somewhere that we cannot reach just as blue birds are around us, not in distant places. Still, it is difficult for us to answer the question of “what is your small but certain joy?” Isn’t it that we have not spent enough time to reflect on ourselves?

Upon visiting Seohuri Forest, I thought, “I would be able to learn about myself here in this forest in the nature without a single element of artificiality.”

Though it has been maintained for about 20 years, it was 2014 when Seohuri Forest was officially opened to grant admission of the general public. It is a family forest that was originally established by the father and is now continued by his daughter, son, and wife. Maintaining a forest takes much efforts and attention so each day is spent to its fullest but the owners are not hesitant to share the knowledge about forest, which they have learned from studying horticulture and landscaping, with the customers. Seohuri Forest is constituted of various colonies for different trees such as maple trees, nut pine trees, ginkgo trees, royal azalea trees and metasequoia forest. It is correct to regard it as something between a stroll and a climb as it is a bit more strenuous than a stroll but lighter than a climb. It is divided into Course A and Course B at the maple tree forest, and the birch forest is located at the peak, which could be a little bit challenging for people who do not normally exercise. Fancy flowers in diverse colors are in full bloom in front of the café built with red clay. The owner, Mrs. Oh Jin-ri, diligently maintained the garden and planted flowers, thinking that she would decorate it beautifully since it is where she would get married, and she actually had her wedding there.

If you wish to stay longer at Seohuri Forest, I recommend an overnight stay at “Capsule Pension.” Despite no light at night, no Wi-Fi and no TV, this small house in the forest offers a great level of satisfaction that one who has visited before will certainly visit again. It almost feels like my own hiding place.

I heard that flowering cherries with white flowers, which appear as if they are wearing a wedding dress, are in full bloom. They are nicknamed as “Brides of May” as they blossom during May every year but they have come a bit earlier this year, Mrs. Oh says. On the way to meet flowering cherries, I contemplate about “small but certain joy” again. What is small but certain joy for you?

Written and photos by Kim Sun-joo

Website http://seohuri.com/

AND_Eorayeon

Grilled fish with crispy skin and soft texture 

<Copyright(c)2002 GGC All rights reserved.>