Docheong-ri Holly Grove

On a seaside hill behind the village of Mohang, at the southern tip of the Byeonsan Peninsula, about 50 Chinese holly trees grow together in a loose grove. This is the northernmost point where the warmth-loving species grows wild, which is why the grove was designated a Natural Monument in 1962. It is only a few minutes' walk from Mohang Beach, so it makes an easy stop on a coastal trip.

The tree for scratching a tiger's back

Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta) is an evergreen in the holly family. Its glossy leaves end in sharp spines, and its Korean name, horanggasi, suggests a tree prickly enough for a tiger to scratch its back on. It flowers in April and May, and its red berries ripen in September and October and often stay on the branches into the snow, which is why it is widely used for Christmas decorations. The thick, glossy leaves are roughly rectangular with a spine at each corner. Male and female flowers grow on separate trees, so only the female trees bear berries. It grows mainly along the south coast of South Jeolla and the west coast of Jeju; the Byeonsan Peninsula marks the northern edge of its natural range.

A grove on the coastal hill

About 50 trees grow in scattered clusters on the hillside above the southern shore of Docheong-ri. They reach only 2–3 m, so the grove looks less like a wood than a hillside covered in tall shrubs. It begins just above a roadside stone retaining wall, with a heritage information board in front. From the top you can see Mohang village, the sea and the islands beyond through the branches.

Local custom once called for people to cut holly branches on the first day of the second lunar month and hang them with a fish outside the front door to keep evil from entering the house. The spiny leaves were believed to drive away malicious spirits.

A southern tree at its northern limit

Chinese holly is a warm-temperate species that does not cope well with cold, so in Korea it grows mainly where winters are mild, along the south coast and the western shore of Jeju. The southern coast of the Byeonsan Peninsula, which juts out into the Yellow Sea, is the furthest north the tree manages to grow on its own. That makes the grove important for understanding how far plant species spread, and it is protected as a Natural Monument for that reason.

Mohang, just below the grove, is a small fishing village at the southern tip of Docheong-ri. The village wraps around Mohang Beach and has a mudflat experience centre nearby, so the holly hill fits naturally into a stroll around the village.

Tripto tips

• Access: Open at all times and free. There is no car park at the grove itself, so park near Mohang Beach and walk the roughly 370 m.
• When to go: October through winter, when the red berries are on the trees. The small flowers appear in April and May; you need to get close to see them.
• Time needed: 15–30 minutes is plenty for the grove; allow about an hour if you add a walk around Mohang village and the beach.
• Combine it with: The Mohang mudflat experience centre and beach are right next door, and Chaeseokgang Cliffs lie on the same Byeonsan coast.
• Be careful: This is a protected natural monument, so do not break branches or pick berries. The spiny leaves are sharp, so keep an eye on children.
• Information: Buan Tourist Information Center, +82-63-581-5114.