Uirimji Reservoir

When Koreans call the Chungcheong region "Hoseo", west of the lake, the lake they mean is said to be Uirimji in Jecheon. This ancient reservoir is generally dated to the Samhan period, roughly two thousand years ago, and it still irrigates rice fields today. Together with Jerim, the grove of pines and willows on its embankment, it is protected as a national Scenic Site, and a walk around the shore takes you through one of the oldest chapters of Korean farming.

History: an irrigation work from the Samhan period

Uirimji is counted among Korea's three great ancient irrigation works, together with Byeokgolje in Gimje and Susanje in Miryang, and it is the only one of the three that still works as a reservoir. Two stories explain its origin: one says that Ureuk, the master of the gayageum zither, dammed the stream in the Silla period; another says that a magistrate named Park Ui-rim later rebuilt the dam more solidly. Scholars generally consider it a Samhan-period reservoir.

The embankment was repaired under King Sejong and again by Jeong In-ji under King Sejo, and once more for five years from 1910. In 1972 heavy rain broke the western bank, and the investigation that followed revealed a large spring at the bottom of the reservoir. A provincial monument from 1976, it became the Scenic Site "Uirimji Reservoir and Jerim Forest in Jecheon" in 2006. Today it is managed by the Korea Rural Community Corporation as a farm water supply.

Uirimji in numbers

• The shoreline is about 1.8 km long.
• Sources differ on its depth: 8–11 m or 8–13 m.
• Its outlet is known to have been built from earthenware, which makes it a source for studying early farming technology.

A suggested walk

Start at the history museum to learn how the reservoir was built, follow the Jerim grove along the embankment towards Yeonghojeong and Gyeongho-ru, and finish at the glass deck above Yongchu Falls below the lake. On the embankment, look away from the water as well: the fields below are still fed by the water this dam holds back, which is what makes Uirimji special. It also appeared in the popular TV show "2 Days & 1 Night", and weekends bring many families.

What to see

• Jerim: the old pines and willows on the embankment. The grove already appears on historic maps of Jecheon and of Uirimji.
• Yeonghojeong and Gyeongho-ru: a pavilion and a two-storey lookout by the water, built in 1807 and 1948. From inside, the old pines on the bank frame the lake.
• Yongchu Falls and the glass deck: below the lake, a natural waterfall drops about 30 m, with a glass-floored viewing deck above it. It is best after rain.
• Uirimji History Museum: a short walk from the lake. Seeing how the reservoir was built before you walk the embankment makes the site much easier to read.

Tripto tips

• Visiting: the lake and paths are open at all times and free, with parking and toilets.
• When to go: fresh willow leaves in spring, autumn colour in autumn. When the lake freezes in deep winter, the scenery changes completely.
• Time needed: 1–2 hours for a loop of the lake, the falls and the museum. The pine grove park and the small Uirimji Park Land amusement area are right next door.
• Getting there: just north of central Jecheon, easy by city bus or taxi.
• Phone: +82 43-651-7101.