Korea's signature forest trail in Jecheon wins over hikers, tourists

When local cultural guide Lee Sun-yeo first explored the mountains of Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, she found a web of narrow paths used by herbalists.

All she did, in her own modest telling, was connect the disjointed paths and widen them slightly for local residents.

From that work emerged one of Korea’s signature forest trails.

Known as Cheongpungho Jadrakgil, the trail has become a major draw for hikers, with seven routes that preserve the landscape in its natural state.

Jecheon has attracted more than 10 million visitors annually for the past three years, with Cheongpungho Lake and Jadrakgil among its leading attractions.

Lee was no stranger to mountains or hiking.

She had climbed to peaks across the country before becoming a cultural guide in 2008.

When the Jeju Olle Trail became popular in 2010, she began developing the idea for Jadrakgil with the Jecheon city government.

After two years of being stung by bees, bitten by snakes and cut by tall grass — at one point she started carrying spears to fend off wild boars — Lee, city officials and experts finally completed t ...