Jangdong Forest Park

Jangdong Forest Park, on the slopes of Gyejoksan in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon, is the starting point of the Gyejoksan Red Clay Trail, a barefoot walk on soft red earth. The clay is spread along 14.5 km of forest road that circles the mountainside, and foot-washing stations along the way mean you will see plenty of people carrying their shoes. Entry and parking are free and the park never closes, which makes it an easy forest escape from central Daejeon.

From forest park to barefoot trail

Jangdong Forest Park opened in June 1995, keeping Gyejoksan's natural woodland as it was. Tucked into a wooded valley below Gyejoksanseong Fortress, it began life as a neighbourhood forest where locals came to walk and exercise.

Things changed in 2006. McKiss Company, a Daejeon drinks maker, laid red clay over the forest road leading out of the park and created a barefoot path, and this trail is widely seen as the start of Korea's barefoot-walking craze. Rain and feet wear the clay away, so more than 2,000 tonnes are brought in from around the country every year and spread again. Today over a million people a year are said to walk it.

What to see

• Gyejoksan Red Clay Trail: a loop that leaves the park entrance and follows the forest road around the mountainside. A separate earth path for walkers in shoes runs right beside the clay, so barefoot walkers and shod companions can go together.
• Foot baths and rest stops: a foot bath next to the pavilion at the entrance, plus washing points and shelters along the route.
• Park facilities: around 20 sports, adventure and play facilities, a lawn and a water play area, which is why so many families come. Deeper in the woods, a wooden boardwalk crosses a pond.
• Gyejoksanseong Fortress: a stone-walled mountain fortress following the ridge around the 420 m summit of Gyejoksan, protected as a national Historic Site. The walls stand roughly 7–10 m high, and gate sites survive on the east, west and south sides. A large well from the Three Kingdoms period was found inside.

Baekje or Silla?

For a long time Gyejoksanseong was thought to be a Baekje fortress. Excavations in 1998–1999, however, found that the oldest pottery was Silla ware from the mid to late 6th century, and that the walls were built the same way as Silla's Samnyeonsanseong Fortress in Boeun. Most now see it as a Silla fortress that Baekje held for a time, though the debate is not closed. Goryeo roof tiles and Joseon ceramics from building sites inside show that it was still in use in the Joseon period.

The story behind the clay trail is a nice one too. The company's head is said to have given his trainers to a companion who had turned up in high heels, walked the mountain road barefoot, slept unusually well that night, and decided to share the experience by covering the road with clay.

Tripto tips

• Opening: open 24 hours, all year. Entry and parking are free. Information: +82-42-623-9909.
• Time needed: walking the whole loop (14.5 km) slowly and barefoot takes 4–5 hours. First-timers usually walk part of the way from the entrance and turn back, which takes 1–2 hours.
• When to go: spring to autumn is the barefoot season. Straight after rain the clay is slippery, so take care.
• What to bring: a towel and spare socks, and a light bag for your shoes.
• The fortress: as of summer 2026, parts of the paths up to the fortress were closed for wall repairs. Check before you go if you plan to hike up.
• Getting there: the address is 79-70 Sandi-ro, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon. There is a free car park, so driving is easiest; for buses, search for the "Jangdong Forest Park" (장동산림욕장) stop in a map app.
• Combine with: Dongchundang in Songchon-dong, the house of a Joseon scholar, pairs well with the trail for a full day in Daedeok-gu.