Daegok-ri Oriental Cork Oak, Andong

On a hillside in Daegok-ri, Imdong-myeon, east of Andong, an Oriental cork oak estimated at around 500 years old spreads its branches in every direction. At 22.5 m tall and 5.4 m round at chest height, it is considered the sturdiest and best-formed of Korea's protected cork oaks, and it was declared a Natural Monument in 1982. The plot at 583 Daegok-ri around it is protected along with the tree. If you like big old trees, it is worth a short detour on the roads east of Andong.

What is an Oriental cork oak?

The Oriental cork oak grows in Korea, China and Japan, and is best known for the thick layer of cork that forms on its trunk. It copes well with dry south-facing slopes and stony ground and is especially common in Gangwon and North Gyeongsang. Its bark was used for cork and its acorns for dotorimuk, a firm acorn jelly. Walk up to the base of the Daegok-ri tree and you can clearly see the deeply furrowed, spongy bark. The thick trunk divides into several limbs that form a broad, rounded crown.

Light and water-resistant, the bark was useful in daily life too: in the mountains of Gangwon people stripped it to roof their houses, known as gulpijip. You can tell this oak from the similar sawtooth oak by its leaves, which are whitish and downy underneath. Pick up a fallen leaf, turn it over and you will see the difference at once.

A tree the village looked after

For generations the tree was the spiritual centre of the village. Each July, once farm work was done, villagers chose a good day to repair the paths between the rice fields and cut back the weeds, then gathered under the tree to hold a rite and share food. People also believed that if a scops owl came to call from the tree in spring, the harvest would be good. The scops owl is a summer visitor that arrives in spring, so its call also marked the start of the farming season. Its long care by the community gives it folk-cultural value, and its size and age make it one of the most important cork oaks in the country.

Tripto tips

• Access: this is an open-air tree on a village hillside, so you can see it from outside at any time. Do not step inside the protected area or onto the roots, and keep your voice down, as people live right next to it.
• Time needed: 20–30 minutes is plenty.
• Parking: village lanes are narrow, so leave the car in a wider spot at the village entrance and walk up. Farm machinery uses the lanes in the busy season, so do not block the way.
• Getting there: the tree stands at 583 Daegok-ri, Imdong-myeon, Andong, about 25 km east of central Andong in a straight line. Buses are infrequent, so a car is easiest.
• Best time: May, when the new leaves come out, and late autumn, when they turn brown and orange. In winter the bare branches and bark pattern are easiest to see.
• Combine with: Imdong-myeon borders Imha Lake, so a lakeside drive fits in well. Hahoe Village and Dosan Seowon lie in other directions from Andong, so plan your route before setting off.