Wondae-ri Birch Forest

On a hillside in Wondae-ri, Inje, some 690,000 birch trees stand packed across 138 hectares. Walking between their straight white trunks, you are surrounded by white and green on every side, which is why it is also called the "Whispering Birch Forest". It is a national forest with free entry and a good half-day walk on any trip through inland Gangwon.

A forest planted by hand

This is not a natural forest: the birches were planted over 21 years, from 1974 to 1995. The trees are now more than 20 years old, and part of the forest has been set up for visitors, with an outdoor classroom, a lookout, an ecological pond, a cone-shaped "Indian house" shelter, wooden bridges and stairs. It is managed by the Korea Forest Service's Inje National Forest Management Office.

The Korean name jajak-namu is said to come from the crackling "jajak-jajak" sound the wood makes as it burns. Up close, the white bark peels in thin, papery layers. Of the whole area, 25 hectares are set aside as a forest experience zone for children, so many visitors come as families.

Getting to the trees

The forest does not start at the visitor centre. From there you walk up a forest road: about an hour via the Wondae forest road, or about 80 minutes via the Wonjeong forest road. Once you reach the forest there are seven trails; the most popular, Course 1 (Birch Course), is about 0.9 km long and takes about 50 minutes, through the densest stand of birches.

A forest for every season

• Summer: deep green leaves against white trunks make the forest feel at its coolest.
• Autumn: the leaves turn yellow and the whole forest seems to brighten.
• Winter: the snow-covered forest is famous among photographers. It was the setting for Jin-ah and Joon-hee's date in the drama Something in the Rain, and for Crown Prince Lee Chang's sorrowful farewell in Kingdom 2, both filmed in winter.

Tripto tips

• Opening hours: May–October 09:00–18:00 (entry 09:00–15:00); November–March 09:00–17:00 (entry 09:00–14:00). Closed every Monday and Tuesday, except when they fall on a public holiday.
• Spring closure: the forest closes to visitors during the spring wildfire-prevention period. Dates are announced each year, so check if you are going between March and May. It may also close in severe weather.
• Fees: entry is free. Parking is listed as free, but some sources mention a parking charge refunded as local gift vouchers, so check on site.
• Time needed: allow 2.5 to 4 hours for the forest road both ways plus Course 1. Entry closes early, so set off in the morning.
• What to bring: the forest road is a long uphill walk, so wear trainers or hiking shoes. Bring water and snacks, and microspikes in winter. The white trunks photograph more cleanly on overcast days or when the forest is evenly shaded than in harsh midday sun.
• Information: Inje National Forest Management Office, +82 33-463-0044