Sancheong County Opens 1.5-km Daewonsa Valley Trail Extension, Completing 5-km Route

3 billion won invested... Ecological trail expanded over three years starting in 2024
Deck trail, rest areas and observation platforms improve walking convenience for visitors
Opening ceremony held in Yupyeong Village, Samjang-myeon, on October 16... About 100 residents and officials attended

Sancheong County in South Gyeongsang Province has completed a 1.5-kilometer extension of the ecological trail along the Daewonsa Valley Trail on Jirisan, bringing the total trail length to 5 kilometers.

The county said it held an opening ceremony for the extended section of the Daewonsa Valley Trail in Yupyeong Village (Samgeori Village), Samjang-myeon, on October 16 and opened the new trail.

About 100 people attended the ceremony, including Sancheong County Chief Yoo Myunghyun, Sancheong County Council Chair Ahn Cheonwon, provincial and county council members, the head of the Gyeongnam Office of Jirisan National Park, the chief monk of Daewonsa Temple, and representatives of local residents.

[Photo courtesy of Sancheong County] A view of the Jirisan Daewonsa Valley Trail, which Sancheong County extended to a total of 5 km by adding a 1.5-km section to the existing trail. The county held an opening ceremony for the extended section on the 16th and opened the new trail.

The event began with a report on the project's progress, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a walk along the new trail.

The Daewonsa Valley Trail extension project was carried out in the area around Yupyeong-ri, Samjang-myeon, over three years, from 2024 through this year. The total project cost was 3 billion won, comprising 1.5 billion won in national funding, 450 million won in provincial funding, and 1.05 billion won in county funding.

The project added a 1.5-kilometer section to the existing 3.5-kilometer trail and included visitor amenities such as an environmentally friendly deck trail, rest areas, and observation platforms.

As a result, the full length of the Daewonsa Valley Trail has increased from 3.5 kilometers to 5 kilometers.

Pedestrian facilities were installed along the extended section so visitors can take in the natural scenery around the valley as they walk, and rest and viewing areas were set up in some sections.

The county said it focused on minimizing damage to the surrounding natural environment while improving pedestrian safety and convenience during construction of the trail.

The Daewonsa Valley Trail runs along Daewonsa Valley on Jirisan and is one of Sancheong's major ecotourism attractions, offering close-up views of the valley and forest scenery.

Sancheong County expects the opening of the extended section to give visitors more distance to explore and more opportunities to enjoy the natural scenery.

The county also plans to reduce inconvenience for visitors through ongoing trail maintenance and management, as well as regular inspections of safety facilities.

Sancheong County Chief Yoo Myunghyun said, "The opening of the extended section of the Daewonsa Valley Trail will allow visitors to experience more of Jirisan's natural scenery. We will work to maintain and manage the trail so it can be used safely and comfortably in every season."

The Daewonsa Valley Trail extension project invested a total of 3 billion won to expand the existing trail from 3.5 kilometers to 5 kilometers. With the longer route, Sancheong County has also expanded its ecotourism infrastructure centered on Jirisan's valleys.

However, following the trail's opening, visitor safety management and conservation of the natural environment remain important challenges as visitor numbers increase.

In particular, ongoing measures will be needed to manage access in response to weather conditions, including heavy rain and rising valley water levels, regularly inspect the deck facilities, and maintain visitor amenities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.