Hwajinpo Pine Forest Bathing Area

Hwajinpo Pine Forest Bathing Area is a trekking course located near Hwajinpo, the largest lagoon in Korea. It is a section of pine forest that begins at “The Castle of Hwajinpo,” also known as Kim Il-sung’s Villa, and continues to Eungbong. At the starting point of the course stands a uniquely shaped building made with rounded pebble exterior materials. It is called “The Castle of Hwajinpo,” but is better known by the name “Kim Il-sung’s Villa.” Beginning with the beautiful scenery of Hwajinpo Beach seen from The Castle of Hwajinpo, visitors can walk along the pine forest path to Geojin Port while enjoying a variety of themes. Unlike other forest bathing areas, it offers many attractions, including a forest therapy garden, shrub garden, wetland garden, and meditation forest path. Rest areas have been created along the way where visitors can take a break and rest their tired feet, and the deck path is especially enjoyable because it allows visitors to walk while looking out over Hwajinpo Lake. Eungbong, at an elevation of 122 m, is not particularly high, but from there visitors can see both the forest bathing area and the North and South Lakes of Hwajinpo, while Hwajinpo Beach presents a picturesque scenic view. In particular, the octagonal pavilion located along the walking trail is regarded as one of the best viewpoints for enjoying the scenery. The greatest advantage of this forest bathing area is that its paths are relatively flat and gently sloped, allowing people of all ages and genders to enjoy forest bathing without difficulty. In addition, the walking trail’s outstanding natural scenery and the pine forest emitting phytoncides provide more than a double benefit.