Geumgang Arboretum draws crowds even before official reopening

Geumgang Arboretum has quickly become a must-visit destination in central Korea, drawing enthusiastic crowds from the Chungcheong region and beyond even before its official reopening.

The provincial Forest Resources Research Institute announced Thursday that more than 6,600 people visited the arboretum in the week following its soft reopening on Sept. 21, with visitors coming not only from the Chungcheong provinces but from across the country.

The arboretum spans 269 hectares and sits within the former main campus of the provincial Forest Resources Research Institute. It opened before 1994 and was beloved by the public for more than 30 years before closing at the end of June 2025, ahead of the institute's relocation of its main campus to Cheongyang.

With the launch of the ninth term of elected local government, plans shifted from selling the site to reopening it. The province and Sejong City signed an MOU on Sept. 16 for the joint reopening and operation of Geumgang Arboretum and other facilities.

Under the agreement, the province began offering free temporary access to the arboretum's outdoor areas — including exhibition gardens, an earthen metasequoia trail, walking paths and rest facilities — starting Sept. 21, ahead of the Chuseok holiday.

The metasequoia earthen trail is the arboretum's signature attraction, drawing a steady stream of visitors who stroll along a path winding through a dense metasequoia forest and soak in the natural surroundings.

The arboretum's scenic landscapes, which change with each season, and its diverse plant life have also proved a hit with families and visitors seeking a leisurely walk or a quiet rest.

The province plans to keep the arboretum free of charge through the end of this year to allow as many visitors as possible to enjoy the forest and its recreational offerings, with an official opening set for January next year.

"We thoroughly prepared viewing and convenience facilities, and maintained trees and plant resources ahead of the soft opening to ensure visitors can enjoy the arboretum safely and comfortably," an official at the provincial Forest Resources Research Institute said. "We will continue to do our best to improve facility management and visitor convenience so that everyone can enjoy forest recreation and cultural services in a safe and pleasant environment."