Korea Forest Service to open 512km of 849km East-West Trail for two-month trial run starting Thursday
South Korea's first long-distance backpacking trail — an 849-kilometer route crossing the peninsula from Taean-gun in South Chungcheong Province to Uljin-gun in North Gyeongsang Province — is set to open to the public on a trial basis.
The Korea Forest Service announced Monday that it will launch a two-month public trial run of the East-West Trail starting Thursday, opening 32 sections spanning 512 kilometers ahead of the full route's completion.
The trial is designed to let hikers experience the trail before it is finished, with user feedback to be incorporated into route improvements and shelter operations to raise the overall quality of the path.
A highlight of the trial opening is the chance to spend a night in the forest. Backpackers can stay at 30 shelters along the trail, with reservations available starting Tuesday through the Sunnuri e-website.
Each section offers a distinct landscape — one day along the tidal flats of the West Sea and ancient Naepо roads, the next through the deep forests of the Baekdudaegan ridge and the Uljin Geumgang pine forest. Backpacking events of varying scales will also be held at locations along the trail during the period.
The Korea Forest Service said it will prioritize safety management and visitor convenience at the shelters throughout the trial period, while completing construction of the full 849-kilometer route this year. Drawing on public feedback gathered during the trial, the agency plans to open the entire trail in October 2027 and develop the East-West Trail into a world-class long-distance forest route that attracts hikers from around the globe.
"Now, when autumn forests are at their most beautiful, I hope people will come and experience a night in the woods on the East-West Trail," said Jo Yeong-hui, director general of the Korea Forest Service's forest welfare bureau. "The steps and voices of each and every citizen will come together to complete a world-class long-distance forest trail."
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
