"Ah, my love is gone. Walking the small path through the maple forest, breaking through the blue mountain light … "
To mark the 100th anniversary of the publication of "Nim's Silence" by Manhae Han Yong-un, a series of events will invite the public to walk the very landscape described in the poem — and to plant more maple trees there.
Inje-gun announced Wednesday that it will hold the "2026 Baekdam Valley Pilgrimage Trail — The Path of Manhae, the Path of Musan" walking event, followed by a maple tree planting ceremony to establish the "Manhae Maple Forest Trail," both along Baekdam Valley on Sept. 13.
The events are designed to honor the literary legacy and spirit of the Buddhist monk and poet Manhae Han Yong-un, and to carry forward the lives and ideas of both Manhae and the monk Musan Jo O-hyeon, whose footprints are woven into the landscape around Seoraksan and Baekdamsa Temple.
In the morning, participants will walk a 9.5-kilometer route from Manhae Village through Baekdam Valley to Baekdamsa Temple.
The roughly three-hour walk follows a path that both Manhae Han Yong-un and Musan Jo O-hyeon once traveled, giving participants time to reflect on the lives, literature and ideas the two figures left behind.
After the walk, a tree-planting ceremony to establish the Manhae Maple Forest Trail will take place near Baekdamsa Temple.
The planting carries a symbolic purpose: walkers will bring to life in the Baekdam area of Seoraksan the very "maple forest" that appears in the poem, creating a space where future readers can encounter Manhae's literature and spirit in person — a living tribute that endures across generations.
On that day, 30 Korean maple and Acer triflorum trees will be planted on approximately 1,400 square meters of land owned by Baekdamsa Temple, and a poetry recitation of "Nim's Silence" will also be held.
Inje-gun plans to develop the Baekdam Valley area into a permanent humanities and cultural pilgrimage space where visitors can experience the lives and literature of Manhae and Musan, rather than treating the event as a one-time commemoration.
To mark the centenary of "Nim's Silence," Inje-gun is pursuing a range of commemorative projects — including a special exhibition, a youth Manhae festival, an original pansori performance and the maple forest trail — to reexamine Han Yong-un's literary and spiritual legacy.
"We want to go beyond simply commemorating the spirit and scenery captured in a poem written 100 years ago, and instead carry them forward through paths that people walk and forests that grow with time," Inje-gun County Chief Choe Sang-gi said. "I hope the Baekdam trail, where the footsteps of Manhae and Musan Jo O-hyeon remain, and the maple forest of 'Nim's Silence' will become a space that passes on that spirit and value from generation to generation."
The walking event is free and open to anyone nationwide, with registration on a first-come, first-served basis for up to 300 participants.
Inquiries can be directed to the Culture and Arts Team at Inje-gun County Office. Registration is also available online via the QR code on the event promotional poster.
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