Because of severe air pollution in the last few years, I do not know when was the last time I saw clean, blue sky. I begin to increasingly miss the time when I saw stars in the clear night sky from the front yard of my grandmother’s house. In Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi-do, there is a place you may visit when you want to see stars amidst the nature with refreshing air. It is Jungmisan Recreational Forest.

A secluded and tranquil place where children can run around as much as they want without minding others, Jungmisan Recreational Forest in Yangpyeong boasts 100% reservation rate of its rooms on weekends and is one of the most popular national recreational forests in the country. “I have finally won a trip to Jungmisan Recreational Forest!” Joyful reviews on blogs or social media are the proof of its popularity.

One of the reasons that make Jungmisan Recreational Forest popular is the “Tree House.” Built at a height greater than 1 m from the ground to encounter more sunshine and cool breeze, Tree House has a unique appearance in the shape of a cloud. The highlight of the Tree House is a star observatory constructed to view stars in the clear night sky in Jungmisan Mountain. If you accompany a child who wants to be a future scientist, his or her dream may be solidified further after experiencing a marvelous world seen through a telescope. The rooms are also named after planets in our solar system such as Venus, Pluto, Jupiter, Mercury, and Neptune.

It is a good idea to participate in the forest commentary program, which is offered for free during the day. More than 1,000 species of animals from birds and mammals to amphibians currently inhibit Jungmisan Recreational Forest in addition to large, pine trees, nut pines, Mongolian oak trees, oak trees, dogwood, bracken, seasoned aster, groundsel, deodeok, medicinal herbs, and mushrooms. If you participate in the forest ecological experience education program in which you have a chance to walk along a phytoncide-filled path with a forest commentator, you will be able to create new memories in the forest. The forest commentary program is run from March to November, twice a day at 10 AM and 2 PM. Other fun programs such as orienteering (with a fee), a forest sport, and mountain puzzle making experience (3,000 KRW) are also available.

On my way through downtown, I saw the catchphrase of Yangpyeong-gun that reads, “Everything I want for my travel.” Though travel that everyone dreams of and desires may be different, I believe the essence is the same. Escaping from the city and letting go of everything in the nature, I think I can find the travel I want at Jungmisan Recreational Forest.

Written and photos by Kim Sun-joo

TIP.

There is Jungmisan Observatory near Jungmisan Recreational Forest. The constellation trip (20:00-21:30) held every day, video astronomy education, constellation and astronomical observation, etc. may be experienced (reservation required).

Website http://www.astrocafe.co.kr/

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