When people think of Busan, blue would be the first color to occur, or the full palette of colors like Gamcheon Culture Village. Now, add green to your list thanks to Ahopsan Forest in Gijang.
When you step on its tranquil trails filled with green, you will understand why it has been beloved by many Kdrama producers and Korean filmmakers.
On This Post
- General Information about Ahopsan Forest
- Ahopsan Forest in Kdramas and Korean Movies
- Hiking Ahopsan Forest (The Route)
- History of Ahopsan Forest
- Manners Maketh Man
- More Questions
- Other Attractions Near Ahopsan Forest
Information about Ahopsan Forest
Address and Map of Ahopsan Forest
31, Midong-gil, Cheolma-myeon, Gijang-gun, Busan, South Korea
How to Get to Ahopsan Forest
- Ride Subway Line 1 (Orange Line). Get off at Nopo station (노포/134), Exit 1. Transfer to the bus, Gijang-gun 2-3. It would take about 50 minutes (22 stops). Get off at Midong maeul (미동마을/Midong village) bus stop. Walk to Ahopsan Forest (approximately 350 meters / 0.2 miles)
- Free parking is available.
Admission (Entrance Fee)
₩5,000 (Free admission up to 4 years old)
Opening Hours
09:00 – 18:00 (Last Admission 17:00)
Contact
Phone: +82-51-721-9183
Visitor Guidelines
- No Food Allowed
- No Pets Allowed
- No Smoking
What is the Korean name of Ahopsan Forest?
Ahopsansup (아홉산숲) is what Koreans call this beautiful forest in Busan. ‘Ahopsan’ means nine mountains and ‘sup’ means forest. Ahopsan got its name because it has nine valleys in it.
When to Visit Ahopsan Forest
You will enjoy Ahopsan Forest any time of the year. Spring is great to see freshly growing bamboo shoots. Summer is the greenest season. Probably more bugs, though.
Autumn is the best season for hiking in South Korea for any trails. And, Ahopsan Forest would be one of the rare green places during winter time.
Ahopsan Forest in Kdramas and Korean Movies
Ahopsan Forest is a real beauty itself with tall trees covering the sky and refreshing trails. On top of that, it has become even more famous because it is a popular place for filming Kdramas and Korean movies.
The most popular Kdrama filmed at Ahopsan Forest is The King: Eternal Monarch. In the drama, the gate connecting the parallel universes stands in the bamboo forest. The characters use the gate including The King, Lee Gon (Lee Min-ho), so the bamboo forest is seen often in The King: Eternal Monarch.
The gate in the drama still stands at Ahopsan Forest after shooting so you can take your selfie with it.
In another Kdrama, 100 Days My Prince, Lee Yool (EXO’s D.O.) rides a horse through the bamboo forest. In addition, many Korean dramas and movies were filmed at Ahopsan Forest. More dramas and movies are currently being filmed as well.
The list of Kdramas and Korean Movies filmed at Ahopsan Forest
Korean Dramas:
- River Where the Moon Rises (달이 뜨는 강)
- The King: Eternal Monarch (더 킹: 영원의 군주)
- 100 Days My Prince (백일의 낭군님)
- My Sassy Girl (엽기적인 그녀)
- The Emperor: Owner of the Mask (군주-가면의 주인)
- The King Loves (왕은 사랑한다)
- Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (달의 연인 – 보보경심 려)
- Flowers of the Prison (옥중화)
- The Royal Gambler (대박)
Korean Movies
- The Tiger: An Old Hunter’s Tale (대호)
- Memories of the Sword (협녀: 칼의 기억)
- Kundo: Age of the Rampant (군도: 민란의 시대)
Related Post: 15 Filming Locations of K-dramas and Korean Movies
Hiking Ahopsan Forest
Over the land of 520,000 square meters, Ahopsan Forest has beautiful hiking trails. It is not too challenging, but it has some ups and downs.
How long are the trails at Ahopsan Forest?
The total of the trails at Ahopsan Forest is 3.2km (2 miles)
How long would it take to hike Ahopsan Forest?
It would take between one hour and one and a half hours to hike Ahopsan Forest. However, it completely depends on your pace and how you enjoy the forest.
The Route of Trails
The trails at Ahopsan Forest are well maintained and marked so you don’t have to worry about getting lost. You can get a free map at the ticket booth.
There is not much information in foreign languages, though.
Entrance and Ticket Booth (No. 1 and 2 on the map)
Once you pass the front gate, you will see the ticket booth. The admission is ₩5,000 per person and it’s free for children up to 4 years old.
The ticket booth is also a small store selling coffee, water, and some beverages.
Tortoise Shell Bamboo Garden (No. 3 on the map)
Before you start hiking, on your right side (No. 3 on the map) you will meet a garden of Tortoise Shell Bamboo (구갑죽 /gu-gap-juk). It’s a very rare breed of bamboo in South Korea.
As you may guess, the name comes from the similarity of the shape of bamboo with the shell of a tortoise. Here, you can see a crepe myrtle, which is older than 100 years old.
Gwanmiheon (No. 4 on the map)
This is the house belonging to the owner family of Ahopsan Forest. The name, Gwanmiheon (관미헌), carries the meaning of ‘even the bracken is considered precious.’
The family built the entire house from the trees of the nearby mountain without using any nails. The house is still a functional living space.
In the front yard, you will see a Ginko tree planted in 1925.
Mushroom Field
On the way to Geumgang Pine forest, you can see the shiitake mushroom field.
Geumgang Pine Tree Forest (No. 8 on the map)
Geumgang Pine trees are the symbolic tree of South Korea. All pine trees here are designated as protected trees by the Gijang County Office. The survey in 2015 found that these pine trees are older than 400 years.
During the extreme pillaging of the Japanese colonial period and the Pacific War era, the Japanese took away the owner family’s brassware, but the family protected these trees despite this severe extortion.
As a result, unlike most pine trees in other regions of the country, there are no scars from rosin collection on these pine trees.
Mangjongjuk Bamboo Forest 1 (Gutteo / No. 9 on the Map)
This is one of the main bamboo forests at Ahopsan Forest. The forest is densely populated with thick bamboo.
Mangjongjuk bamboo is the thickest among bamboo species with a diameter of around 20cm (7.8 inches). It is believed that the first Maengjongjuk bamboo forest was established here around 200 years ago. The densely packed bamboo forest covering the sky is mystical and beautiful at the same time.
In the bamboo forest, there is a circular place without any bamboo called “gutteo.” Gut is a traditional Korean ritual or shamanistic event. These ceremonies are performed for various purposes, including blessings, exorcisms, and healing rituals. Gutteo was a place for the event.
By the way, this is the place where the famous Gate for parallel universes in The King: Eternal Monarch stands.
Path of the Wind (No. 10 on the Map)
On this section of the trail, Himalayan Cedar trees and Manjongjuk Bamboo trees are facing each other. This is the coolest spot in Ahopsan Forest. The name says it all.
Path for Forest Bathing (No. 13 on the Map)
Forest bathing (산림욕 /sal-lim-yok/) is a therapeutic practice that involves immersing oneself in a forest or natural environment to promote mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Ahopsan Forest is a perfect place for forest bathing.
Mangjongjuk Bamboo Forest 2 (Manpyeongdaesup / No. 14 on the Map)
This bamboo forest boasts a size of 10,000 pyeong (approximately 33,057 square meters or 8 acres). It is the filming location for the movie Memories of the Sword. The promotional video for City of Busan and Kdrama Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo was filmed here as well.
Tips for Hiking
As mentioned above it takes at least an hour to hike the forest. So wear comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water.
During the warmer season, spray bug repellent on yourself. You can get a hand fan to repel mosquitoes and other bugs, but in my opinion, a repellent works much better.
Souvenirs
Next to the ticket booth, you can buy bamboo souvenirs. The sign says they are ₩2,000 and ₩3,000 each.
After Hiking
You can clean your shoes or pants with these dusters at the end of hiking.
Or, you can clean up yours with air spray. You can find them in the parking lot.
History of Ahopsan Forest
The history of Ahopsan Forest dates back to the 1600s. The forest boasts a history of 400 years.
After the Imjin War, the Nam-Pyeong Moon clan settled in Midong Village. Over nine generations, the family has cultivated the forest with unwavering dedication.
The Moon family has always believed caring for and protecting the forest was their responsibility. And they were concerned that allowing too many people to visit the forest would lead to its degradation.
In fact, Ahopsan Forest was a secret forest for a long time, not open to the general public. The current healthy condition of the forest is thanks to the family efforts like this.
The forest was occasionally opened to kindergarten students as an experiential learning site, but it became widely known to the general public when it appeared on the screen.
When the Mangjongjuk Forest, which became the background for the movie, Kundo: Age of the Rampant, gained popularity, more and more people started visiting. And there were increasing requests for it to be opened to the public.
Fearing that the sudden influx of people might harm the forest, Moon Baek-seop, the 9th-generation descendant, decided that it would be better to open the forest to the public but in the right way.
By the way, in 2004, the Korea Forest Service designated it as a “beautiful forest to be preserved for the 22nd century.”
Manners Maketh Man
Ahopsan Forest could be such a beautiful place thanks to endless care by the Moon Family for literally several hundred years. So keeping them intact is not simply common sense but also our responsibility.
While you walk on trails, you will see many signs saying ‘Don’t collect bamboo shoots’ or ‘No marking bamboo trees.’ Please, follow the guidelines. It’s simply common sense.
More Questions
Does Busan Have Forests?
Yes, Busan has many forests in and around the city in addition to Ahopsan Forest. The list includes:
- Baekyangsan Mountain Wellbeing Forest
- Baesan Forest Trails
- Busan Healing Forest in Gijang
- Daesin Park
- Dareumsan Recreational Forest in Gijang
- Geumgang Park
- Gupo Obstacle-Free Forest Trails
- Hoedong Reservoir Trails
- Hwangnyeongsan Mountain Trails
- Mandeok Pass Nuri Trails
- Seongjigok Reservoir – Forest Bathing Trails
- Uam-dong Urban Forest
Does Ahopsan Forest Have a Website?
Yes, it has website (click here).
Are There Bamboo Forests in South Korea?
Bamboo carries symbolic significance in Korean culture. It is often associated with integrity, resilience, and uprightness. Also, it was used for various purposes including crafts and musical instruments.
Thus, bamboo forests have been in many areas of Korea. The following places are especially popular.
- Damyang Juknokwon (The most famous bamboo forest in South Korea)
- Taehwagang River Bamboo Forest in Ulsan
- Bamboo Forest at Boseong Daehan Dawon Green Tea Plantation
- Songgwangsa Temple Bamboo Forest in Suncheon
- Guryong Village Bamboo Forest in Iksan
- Geoje Maengjongjuk Theme Park
Other Attractions Near Ahopsan Forest
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
One of the most beautiful temples in South Korea is in the neighborhood. Read my post about Haedong Yonggungsa Temple.
Jukseong Catholic Church
Visit this photogenic church and take a once-a-lifetime shot. Here is my post about Jukseong Catholic Church.
Beomeosa Temple
Beomeosa Temple has been an anchor of Buddhism in the Busan. Read the complete guide to Beomeosa Temple.
Outlet Malls in Gijang
Can any trip be completed without shopping? Gijang is home to two major outlet malls. Read my post about Outlet Malls in Busan.
Pin This For Your Next Busan Trip
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