2026 Access Restrictions and Actual Walking Route at Iksan Guryeong Village Bamboo Forest
Guryeong Village Bamboo Forest in Sinyong-ri, Geumma-myeon, Iksan, is a roughly 50,000-square-meter grove of giant timber bamboo linked to the local history of making bamboo products. However, records indicate access and passage restrictions under a rest-year program from May 2025 through December 2026, so current plans should focus on the entrance and surrounding paths rather than the inner forest.
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Can you enter the forest from May 2025 through December 2026?
Tourism information lists the hours as “open year-round,” and some visitor information describes it as free. However, a review posted in March 2026 states that access and passage are restricted from May 2025 through December 2026 during a closure period intended to protect the bamboo forest and restore its ecological environment.
Therefore, do not assume that you can walk through the entire forest simply because it is described as open year-round. Visitors have reported taking photos only at the entrance and nearby areas during the restricted-access period, which is attributed to a firefly habitat creation and conservation project. For safety, contact the Iksan City Tourism Division to confirm the actual accessible area on the day of your visit.
Geumma-myeon Sinyong-ri 541-3 or 541-2: Which address should you enter in your navigation system?
The forest is in Sinyong-ri, Geumma-myeon, Iksan-si, Jeonbuk State. Jeonbuk tourism information lists the parcel address as Sinyong-ri 541-3. Other tourism information and visitor posts give Sinyong-ri 541-2, so there are two address listings. It is best to search for both “Guryong Village Bamboo Forest” and “Guryong Village Community Center” in your navigation system.
According to visitor reviews, the route begins at the protected tree near Guryong Village Community Center and follows a narrow farm road between rice fields to the forest. The access road has many unpaved sections, and the forest interior consists of narrow dirt paths. Visitors using a taxi who need a road-name address should be prepared to explain the destination by phone.
About 20 minutes by taxi from Iksan Station; 2 hours on Mireuksan-gil for walkers
Visitor information from Iksan Station says that the journey takes about 20 minutes by taxi. Since no confirmed information is available for the exact bus route number or service interval, the simplest option for first-time foreign visitors is to take a taxi from Iksan Station and give either Guryong Village Community Center or the bamboo forest as the destination.
Travelers on foot can use Mireuksan-gil listed on Iksan City’s tourism website. The course runs in the order of Giyang Bus Stop, Mireuksa Temple Site, and Guryong Village Bamboo Forest, with an indicated duration of 2 hours. Other Jeonbuk Cheonri-gil information describes an 8-km, 2-hour-30-minute route from Giyang Bus Stop through Mireuksa Temple Site and Jeonbuk Science High School to the forest. Distinguish between a short visit focused only on the forest and a walking course connecting the surrounding historic sites.
Why a roughly 50,000-square-meter wangdae forest remains in the middle of the village
Guryong Village Bamboo Forest covers approximately 50,000 square meters and is described as the largest bamboo colony south of the Han River. The main species is wangdae bamboo, while some sections also contain black bamboo, called ojuk, and bunsuk, also known as somdae. It is also said to have high ecological value because it lies at the northern limit of wangdae bamboo’s natural range.
This forest is not an isolated patch of vegetation in the mountains but a large living space situated in the middle of the village. Bamboo products made in Guryong Village were sold through the Ganggyeong Five-Day Market not only in nearby areas but also as far as Chungcheong and Gyeonggi provinces. The bamboo forest is said to have been called “Saenggeumbat,” an income-generating resource for the Iksan area’s economy.
From the protected zelkova tree to the old well site: the order for a first walk
Guryong Village has a roughly 300-year-old protected zelkova tree. Benches around it provide a place to rest briefly before entering the forest. Visitor information says that using this protected tree near Guryong Village Community Center as the starting point makes it easier to find the entrance to the farm road.
Inside the forest are signposts for the Square of Life and the Meeting Square, while the Path of Meditation and the Path of Communication meet at the old well site. According to the route description, going straight to the right from the well site leads to the Meeting Square, while going up to the left leads to the filming location for the drama “Chuno.” The paths are interconnected, so visitors can reportedly tour the entire forest in either direction; however, these interior routes may be restricted during the closure period.
Summer mosquitoes and mid-May fireflies: how to choose the season
A review of a summer visit in 2024 says there were many swarms of mosquitoes immediately after entering the forest. The same review recommends spring or autumn, when mosquitoes are less numerous, so it is practical to wear long pants and sneakers and bring insect repellent in summer.
Visitor records say that fireflies appear around mid-May. However, access restrictions related to firefly habitat creation and conservation are recorded from May 2025 through December 2026, so even if you are visiting to see fireflies, do not plan on nighttime entry.
Free, year-round access information and limited facilities on site
Tourism information does not list a separate admission fee, and visitor information describes entry as free. The hours are listed as open year-round, and no regular closing day has been separately confirmed. The inquiry phone number is 063-859-3263, while some visitor information gives 063-859-5797 as the number for the Iksan City Hall Tourism Division.
Parking is listed as available, but other guidance says there may be no dedicated parking lot or that parking spaces near Daesol Han jeungmak may be blocked. Facilities are listed as rest areas, a well, and photo spots, while the Korean-language information service is the tourism information board. No stroller rental is available. There is no official confirmation regarding English information, an audio guide, or credit-card use, and tourism information lists credit cards as unavailable.
Who will find a one-hour walk sufficient—and who may not
According to visitor reviews, a walk inside the forest takes about 1 hour. However, visitors must pass along a farm road between the Guryong Village Community Center, the protected tree, and the rice fields. Because there are unpaved access roads and narrow dirt paths, moving into the forest interior by wheelchair or stroller is highly challenging.
If you want only a short look at the bamboo forest, plan for a walk of about 1 hour. Those continuing to Mireuksa Temple Site can choose either the 2-hour Mireuksan-gil route or the 8-km, 2-hour-30-minute course. The drama “Chuno” and the film “War of the Arrows” are listed as filming locations, and the areas where photography is permitted may vary depending on access controls during the closure period.
Before You Go
- Address
- Sinyong-ri 541-3, Geumma-myeon, Iksan-si, Jeonbuk State; some sources list Sinyong-ri 541-2
- Hours
- Listed as open year-round, but records indicate restricted access and passage during the closure period from May 2025 through December 2026; reconfirm before visiting
- Closed
- No regular closing day confirmed; some sources list year-round access, but records indicate access restrictions from May 2025 through December 2026
- Admission
- Some visitor information lists admission as free
- Phone
- 063-859-3263
- Official site
- https://www.iksan.go.kr/tour
- Transport
- Mireuksan-gil on Iksan City’s tourism website runs Giyang Bus Stop–Mireuksa Temple Site–Guryong Village Bamboo Forest and is presented as a 2-hour walking course; visitor reviews list approximately 20 minutes by taxi from Iksan Station
- Parking
- Listed as available, but visitor reviews say there may be no dedicated parking lot or that parking spaces near Daesol Han jeungmak may be blocked
- Time needed
- Approximately 1 hour for a walk inside the forest, according to reviews
- Accessibility
- No stroller rental; reviews confirm unpaved sections and dirt paths on the farm roads and forest trails
The information above is accurate as of the time of writing. Check the official guidance again before visiting.
Places
Nearby Attractions 3
-
1
Mireuksaji Temple SiteA historic site where you can explore the remains of a Baekje temple and the National Treasure Mireuksaji Stone Pagoda. -
2
National Museum of IksanA museum exhibiting artifacts excavated from Mireuksa Temple Site and historical materials from Baekje. -
3
Iksan Mireuksanseong FortressA place to explore history and mountain trails along the stone fortress ruins at the summit of Mireuksan Mountain.
Food & Dining 3
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4
Mireuksan SundubuA Korean restaurant serving sundubu baekban, herbal sundubu, and tofu kimchi. -
5
MullebangaA Korean restaurant serving fresh-meat kimchi stew, baeksuk (boiled chicken), and ox-foot soup. -
6
Jeontong Eomma SundubuA tofu restaurant serving soft tofu stew, tofu dishes, and pork bone soup.
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