Ahopsan Forest

Ahopsan Forest in Cheorma-myeon, Gijang-gun, Busan, is a private forest that one family has refused to sell for nine generations. Towering moso bamboo and Geumgang pines several centuries old cover 520,000 m² of hillside. It is known as a filming location, but once you are there, what stays with you is how quiet the walk is.

A forest kept by one family

The forest belongs to a branch of the Nampyeong Mun clan that settled in Mido village after the Japanese invasions of the 1590s. Because generation after generation chose to tend rather than develop it, old-growth woodland survives on the slopes of Ahopsan, the "mountain of nine valleys". The family is said to have refused to tap the pines for resin even under Japanese colonial rule. The name of the hanok in the forest, Gwanmiheon, reflects the family's belief that even the smallest plant deserves respect. The forest first opened to the public in 2015, and since 2022 it has run a paid, capped-entry system to protect it.

What to see

• Pyeongji Daebat: a moso bamboo grove of about 33,000 m² on level ground, said to be the largest single stand of moso bamboo in Korea. It is where the lead rides a horse through the bamboo in the drama The King: Eternal Monarch.
• Geumgang pine forest: stands of straight, red-trunked Geumgang pines. The forest has no fewer than 116 designated protected trees.
• Cypress, cedar and ginkgo: other kinds of woodland appear between the bamboo groves, so the mood keeps changing as you walk.
• Film spotting: the films Kundo: Age of the Rampant, The Tiger and Memories of the Sword, and the drama Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo were also shot here.

Forest programmes

Ahopsan has no rides or attractions; visits are kept within limits that do not harm the forest. Instead there are guided forest talks and nature activities for children. Group talks must be booked in advance, so if you come with a group, ask for a guide to hear the story of the forest and its trees. Knowing how the family protected it changes how you see every stand of bamboo.

Tripto tips

• Opening hours: 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00).
• Booking and admission: daily numbers are capped, so book ahead. Published prices vary, so check the booking page.
• Time needed: 40 minutes to an hour for the loop trail.
• Rules: no pets, and no pushchairs, bicycles or trekking poles. There are hardly any facilities inside, and the only toilet is near the entrance. Bring insect repellent in summer and autumn.
• When to go: May–June, when the forest is at its freshest green; the shade keeps it cool even in midsummer. Morning light slanting through the bamboo is especially beautiful.
• Getting there: from Nopo Station on Busan Metro Line 1, take a village bus to the Mido Village stop. By car it is just over 30 minutes from central Busan, with free parking.