Meet 470,000 Cypress Trees Along the 3.7 km Malle-gil Trail on Eokbulsan at Jangheung Woodland

From Son Seok-yeon's Cypress Trees to Eokbulsan's 100-Hectare Forest

Jeongnamjin Cypress Forest Woodland is a forest created at the foot of Eokbulsan in Jangheung-eup. Guide materials introduce its approximately 100-hectare cypress community and cypress trees over 40 years old as its key features. Korea Tourism Organization wellness travel materials describe Son Seok-yeon's planting and cultivation of cypress trees at the foot of Eokbulsan about 60 years ago as the starting point of this forest, and state that it now contains 470,000 cypress trees.

Eokbulsan is described as being 598 meters above sea level. Woodland is not a facility designed solely for climbing to the mountain summit; it combines a Wood Culture Experience Center, Ecological Architecture Experience Center, Healing Forest, Warm-Temperate Native Plant Garden, and Children's Forest Experience Center within the cypress forest. Accordingly, the routes for visitors taking only a short walk and those ascending along the Malle Trail diverge from the entrance.

Admission from 09:00 to 18:00 and KRW 3,000 for Adults: Information to Check Before the Forest Trails

According to current guide materials, general visiting hours are 09:00–18:00, and admission for adults is KRW 3,000. Although operating days are listed as year-round in some materials, programs, accommodations, and heated facilities may have separate operating conditions, so it is advisable to confirm same-day operations in advance by calling 061-864-0063.

The address is 180 Woodland-gil, Jangheung-eup, Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, and the official website is https://www.jhwoodland.co.kr. Access is primarily by car from central Jangheung-gun; Jeonnam Tourism Organization materials state that it is about 2.5 km, or approximately five minutes by car, from Jangheung Intercity Bus Terminal. If you are not taking the Malle Trail, allow two to three hours; if you plan to use the experience facilities or Cypress Salt House, it is better to allow at least half a day.

• General inquiries: 061-864-0063
• General visiting hours: 09:00–18:00
• Adult admission: KRW 3,000
• Official website: https://www.jhwoodland.co.kr

3.7-km Barrier-Free Malle Trail Starting Behind the Salt Sauna

The Malle Trail is a barrier-free deck road that begins behind the salt sauna and continues toward the summit of Eokbulsan. “Malle” is introduced as a local term referring to the wooden floor between rooms in a traditional Korean house, and the trail is approximately 3.7 km long. Since it was designed in a zigzag pattern to reduce the gradient, the perceived travel time may be longer than the distance shown on a map.

The trail was created for use by wheelchair and stroller users, but visitors should bear in mind that it is a long-distance deck route continuing toward the mountain summit. Accessible Tourism materials explain that the walking paths around the entrance are relatively gentle and that wood chips were laid on dirt paths to reduce foot fatigue. Visitors using mobility aids or accompanied by young children should realistically allocate their time around the beginning of the deck and forest rest areas rather than pushing themselves to complete a round trip to the summit.

Planning Your Time for the Cypress Salt House and Enzyme Sawdust Sauna

If you want to use the heated facilities in addition to the forest trails, check the operating conditions for the Cypress Salt House and cypress enzyme sawdust sauna separately. A 2025 Korea Tourism Organization travel article states that the cypress enzyme sawdust sauna operates from 08:00 to 24:00, with sessions lasting 10–20 minutes and a fee of KRW 20,000. It notes that this fee includes free use of the Salt House.

However, general admission hours and the sauna program's operating hours may differ, and holidays, maintenance, and reservation procedures may change. In particular, if you plan to walk the Malle Trail after entering the forest and then use the sawdust sauna, it is better to allow at least four hours, including time to change clothes and rest. In hot weather, completing the long deck walk first and scheduling the sauna afterward can help avoid excessive heat.

Parking Lot 1: 65 Cars; Parking Lot 2: 50 Cars — How to Get There from Jangheung Terminal

According to Jeonnam Tourism Organization guidance, Parking Lot 1 accommodates 65 cars and Parking Lot 2 accommodates 50, for a total capacity of 115 cars. On weekends and holidays, forest experience and accommodation visitors may overlap, so if you are planning the long Malle Trail, it is convenient to arrive in the morning and complete parking and admission procedures first. The parking fee could not be confirmed from the latest available official information, so check on site or by calling the main number.

For public transportation, Accessible Tourism guidance recommends traveling to Jangheung Intercity Bus Terminal and then taking a bus to Woodland. Since the distance between Jangheung Terminal and Woodland is approximately 2.5 km, consider taking a taxi if the bus schedule does not fit. According to Jeonnam Tourism Organization materials, the trip from Seoul Central City Bus Terminal to Jangheung takes about four hours and 40 minutes; Korea Tourism Organization materials state that the trip from Gwangju U-Square Bus Terminal to Jangheung takes about one hour and 50 minutes.

• Parking Lot 1: 65 cars
• Parking Lot 2: 50 cars
• Jangheung Intercity Bus Terminal–Woodland: approximately 2.5 km, about five minutes by car
• Bus service to Woodland is available from the terminal

From the Sawdust Walking Trail to the Warm-Temperate Native Plant Garden: Routes Beyond the Malle Trail

In addition to the Malle Trail, the forest features a walking path covered with cypress sawdust, a Forest of Contemplation, a Path of Love, and a Sky Deck. While the Malle Trail includes a long deck ascent, these areas are good options for visitors who want a shorter stay within the forest. Conditions on the sawdust paths and unpaved sections may change immediately after rain, so sneakers that reduce the risk of slipping are suitable.

The Warm-Temperate Native Plant Garden is described as containing a camellia garden, Fragrance Garden, Rock Garden, greenhouse garden, and aquatic garden. There are also a Wood Culture Experience Center and an Ecological Architecture Experience Center. For visitors who want to focus on the forest, plants, and wood exhibits rather than make a round trip to the summit, it is efficient to start with the facilities near the entrance and then add a walking route. The Cypress Salt House, with its barrier-free deck and accessibility facilities, is an advantage for wheelchair and stroller users, but it would be difficult to regard all forest paths as having the same level of difficulty.

An Afternoon Itinerary Combined with Jangheung Saturday Market — When It Does Not Suit a Forest Visit

If you want to take care of a meal during your Jangheung trip, combining the visit with Jeongnamjin Jangheung Saturday Market is practical. Korea Tourism Organization materials introduce the market as being about 10 minutes from Woodland and describe it as known for Jangheung samhap, a dish of beef, pen shells, and shiitake mushrooms grilled together. Walking through the forest in the morning and having lunch or an early dinner at the market is a manageable arrangement when traveling by car.

Conversely, the summit-bound Malle Trail may not suit people who need to visit several of Jangheung's attractions within a short time or who want only a flat walk of around 10 minutes without stairs or slopes. Woodland is a large forest at the foot of Eokbulsan, so it is better to choose one main purpose than to expect to see the entire area immediately after entering. A video search was attempted, but results could not be obtained because of the search service's daily quota limit.