Exploring the Largest Walking Trail Around Pungjeon Reservoir in Seosan

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On November 16, I learned that the walking trail around Pungjeon Reservoir, located in Galsan-dong, Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, was officially opened.

Seosan City has invested 6 billion KRW to develop a 5.4 km walking trail around the reservoir, which took two years to complete, starting from January 2023.

The trail is divided into three sections, consisting of a 2.5 km deck path, a 1.27 km palm mat path, and connecting bridges.

Located in Galsan-dong, it is not too far from downtown Seosan, making it a relatively accessible park for citizens.

However, it is not easy to reach without a car, so we drove there and used the parking facilities.

If you plan to use the parking lot, just set your navigation to "706 Galsan-dong, Seosan, South Chungcheong Province." There are two restrooms available, one near the parking lot and another at the end of the second section.

As this was my first visit, I was surprised by the vastness of the reservoir. The trail is divided into three sections, with entrances at various points allowing for easy return.

Tip: Taking photos of the entrances can help you navigate the trail more easily, especially since it is quite long.

The path from the parking lot leads directly to the first section of the trail. On one side, there is a stream, and the palm mat trail follows along.

Here are some important rules for using the Pungjeon Reservoir walking trail:

• No fishing
• No pets
• No bicycles or two-wheeled vehicles
• No alcohol or smoking
• No littering

Although pets are prohibited, many visitors seemed unaware of this rule, as I saw several people with dogs.

After walking 300 meters from the parking lot, I reached the entrance marking the start of the first section. If you prefer to start with the third section, you can walk it in reverse.

The first section of the trail is approximately 5.242 km around the reservoir, making it a lengthy course, especially if you consider the round trip to the parking lot.

Initially, I planned to walk only the first section with my young child, but as we entered, I noticed many people enjoying their morning walks despite the chilly weather.

The first section features a long palm mat path, offering stunning views of the reservoir. It was larger than I expected, and I saw many ducks and even swans, along with various birds hunting or resting.

Since there is no shade on this trail, it was pleasantly sunny even in December. On such nice days, bringing a sunshade or wearing a hat would be advisable.

The first section is definitely more visually appealing than the others, making it ideal for families or those looking for a short walk.

As we continued, I noticed a charming character hidden along the trail, which delighted my child. There were also optical illusion photo zones with footprints that added to the fun.

After completing the first section, we decided to continue to the second. There are resting spots along the way, and fortunately, the benches had heating systems, allowing us to warm up a bit.

Despite the hazy weather due to fine dust, the atmosphere was still enjoyable. I would love to return on a clear day for even more breathtaking views.

As we walked, we also explored the Galsan-dong neighborhood, where I noticed beautiful Santa decorations on homes, inspiring me to dream of a rural lifestyle.

After completing the second section, we were about 3 km in, realizing we could not turn back without walking another 2 km. Encouraging myself and my child, we pushed on.

Finally, after about 1 hour and 30 minutes, we completed the trail. Despite being mostly flat, it was a great workout, burning approximately 310 kcal.

Overall, it was a fulfilling experience to finish the trail with my child early on a weekend morning, creating wonderful memories.

Now that the trail has been open for about a month, I hope even more people visit and make it a highlight of Seosan.