Why the 500-Year-Old Dangsan Tree Remained on the Expressway Behind Hyeongpung Service Area Bound for Changwon

1977 Site Where Guma Expressway Construction Met the Seongha-ri Dangsan Tree

Hyeonpung 500-year-old Zelkova Tree Theme Park is located within the Hyeonpung Service Area (Changwon bound) on the Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway Branch. For tourism guidance, the road name address is 741 Biseul-ro, Hyeonpung-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu, and inquiries regarding service area food and facilities can be made at 053-614-2436. Since the old lot numbers, 286 Seongha-ri or the protected tree location at 287-3 Seongha-ri, appear together in records, it is less confusing to enter ‘Hyeonpung Service Area Changwon Bound’ or the road name address into your navigation system.

This tree has long been regarded as the Dangsan tree (guardian tree) of the villages in the Hyeonpung area. Local reports state it is over 500 years old, approximately 13m high, and about 4m in circumference, and it is recorded as being designated as a protected tree on July 22, 1999. As the 86.3km Guma Expressway, which began construction on June 24, 1976, and opened on December 17, 1977, passed through here, one can understand the background of how a village tree became the central theme of a highway rest area space.

Selection as a Theme Service Area in 2013 and Receiving the Landscape Award in 2014

This is not simply a place where one old tree is preserved, but a service area park that created a pedestrian space centered on the story of the Zelkova tree. Information from the Korea Tourism Organization mentions an acupressure path, a foot bath experience area, and a Nakdonggang River observatory, where you can pause and look toward the river. Stories related to wishes are introduced as storytelling based on the local Dangsan tree faith.

The achievements are also concrete. Hyeonpung Service Area was selected as the ‘Theme Service Area of the Year’ among 176 service areas of the Korea Expressway Corporation in 2013, and received the Excellence Award in the History and Culture category at the Korea Landscape Awards hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in 2014. While it is noted that LED lights installed on the Zelkova tree turn on at night, the lighting times and operation status may vary depending on the season and facility conditions, so it is safer to call the service area to confirm rather than departing solely for night viewing.

Time Difference Between the ‘Always Open’ Park and the 06:30–28:30 Food Court

The operating hours of the park itself are registered as ‘Always Possible’ in the Korea Tourism Organization’s barrier-free tourism information, and the holidays are listed as ‘Open Year-Round.’ Admission is free of charge. A separate official independent website is not confirmed, so it is practical to check both the detailed page of the Korea Tourism Organization’s ‘Korea Every Corner’ and the Hyeonpung Service Area phone number at 053-614-2436 for information before visiting.

However, ‘Always Open’ refers to the park stroll. The opening hours of the food court in the Changwon direction of Hyeonpung Service Area, as listed in the Dalseong-gun Food Tourism guide, are marked as 06:30–28:30, so if you plan to use the meal, restroom, or store facilities, you should think of them separately from the park hours. The operation of water for the foot bath facilities, LED lighting, and the actual operation of some convenience facilities may vary depending on weather and management conditions, so a same-day inquiry is necessary.

• Park Use: Always possible
• Holidays: Open year-round
• Admission: Free
• Inquiry: 053-614-2436
• Food Court Guide Hours: 06:30–28:30

Access Conditions: Reachable Only via Hyeonpung Service Area Changwon Bound

This park belongs to the southbound, or Changwon direction, Hyeonpung Service Area of the Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway Branch. Since it is an internal facility of a highway service area, it is not a place you can walk into from a subway station exit like general tourist attractions. Dalseong-gun's guide also explains that there is no nearby subway or regular bus access. For travelers moving only by public transportation, it is more suitable as a stopover point while traveling on the highway toward Changwon by rental car, private car, or tour bus, rather than a primary destination.

Parking is available at the service area parking lot. The Dalseong-gun Food Tourism information states that 98 vehicles including passenger cars, large buses, and trucks can be parked, and entry for tour buses is also possible. However, since this figure is based on service area information, it does not guarantee availability during peak seasons, holidays, or weekends. Drivers should park at the service area and then move to the park, and should first check the southbound line toward Changwon to avoid confusion with the ‘Dokkaebi Service Area’ on the northbound line.

A 20–30 Minute Service Area Stroll with 4 Disabled Parking Spaces and Ramps

For a first-time visitor, the recommended stay time is about 20 to 30 minutes. The layout involves passing the tree entrance from the service area parking lot, looking around the acupressure path and observatory area, and then returning to the restaurant and restroom side. Since the acupressure path is a facility intended for barefoot use, if you are sensitive to foot stimulation or have a foot injury, it is better to pass through wearing sneakers or take a detour. It is also necessary to reflect in your schedule that it is sized for a short rest rather than being a large park for long walks.

Barrier-free information lists 4 parking spaces for the disabled, entrance ramps, disabled restrooms, and a nursing room based on the Hyeonpung Service Area. However, since the park is on the southbound line toward Changwon, it is better to reconfirm which direction the actual facilities are in and their availability on the day by calling 053-614-2436 before departure. Wheelchair and stroller users should move mainly along the paved walking sections of the service area, and judge the slope and ground conditions around the Zelkova tree on-site without overextending themselves.

Distinguishing Between Fact and Legend Regarding the Nakdonggang Observatory and Wish Mailbox

The park description includes the Nakdonggang River observatory and wish-making devices. Rather than being a subject of fact-checking, the story that wishes made in front of this tree come true is more accurately understood as an example of how the local culture of Seongha-ri residents praying for the peace and prosperity of the community at the Dangsan tree has been translated into the service area space. The installation status of participation elements such as wish papers, ribbons, and mailboxes may change depending on the period.

Local articles report an anecdote that a bulldozer stopped near the tree during the construction of the service area in 1977. This is a story passed down in the region and cannot be concluded as a technically proven event. On the other hand, information such as the protected tree designation, the selection as a theme service area in 2013, the top prize at the 2014 Landscape Awards, and details like always available, open year-round, and free admission are confirmed information that can be used directly for travel planning. If you want to see historical stories, you can also look at the highway-related exhibitions and information materials at the entrance of the park.

Distinguishing Between the Two Hyeonpung Service Areas to Avoid Confusion with the Upbound Dokkaebi Park

Hyeonpung Service Area has different themes for the upbound and southbound lines. Dalseong-gun's guide explains that the southbound line has the 500-year-old Zelkova tree and thus has the nickname ‘500-year-old Zelkova Tree Service Area,’ while the upbound line is the ‘Dokkaebi Service Area’ themed after goblins. Therefore, if the Hyeonpung 500-year-old Zelkova Tree Theme Park is your destination, you must check for ‘Changwon Bound’ or ‘Southbound’ on your navigation and signs.

In terms of travel itinerary, this is not a long-stay destination in downtown Daegu, but a stopover point to adjust the rhythm of highway travel. If you only look at the tree, acupressure path, and observatory, 20 minutes is sufficient, and if you add a meal at the service area, about 40 to 60 minutes is reasonable. Conversely, if your schedule involves only buses and subways without plans to use the highway, it is more efficient to prioritize other Dalseong-gun attractions due to the access structure.

• Destination Direction: Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway Branch Changwon bound (Southbound)
• Upbound Alias: Dokkaebi Service Area
• Southbound Alias: 500-year-old Zelkova Tree Service Area
• Recommended Stay: 20–30 minutes for the park only, 40–60 minutes including a meal