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Nongwoljeong
Among the beautiful Three Villages Inside, Hwarimdong Valley stands out as a place that preserves the splendid beauty of nature. Along National Highway 26 that leads from Anui to Jangsu County in Jeollabuk-do, if you travel about 4 km, you will come across a quaint village nestled by a winding stream, which is where you will find the essence of Hwarimdong Valley, Nongwoljeong.
Hwarimdong Valley meanders as the Geumcheon originates from Namdeok Mountain, forming eight pools and eight pavilions. Since ancient times, Hwarimdong Valley has been regarded as a hub of pavilion culture. Even today, four elegant pavilions including Nongwoljeong still remain. In particular, Nongwoljeong is a place imbued with the refined sensibilities of our ancestors, who used to say ‘playing with the moon’. Many poets and scholars seeking inspiration have visited this place.
With tourism facilities around Nongwoljeong developed since 1993, visitors have no inconvenience in terms of camping or lodging, and the campsite, constructed on sandy soil, ensures good drainage even during rain. Camping inside a tent on a rainy day adds a touch of charm to the experience. Although Nongwoljeong was destroyed by a fire in 2003, a newly restored pavilion now stands in its place.
• Address (location): Gyeongsangnam-do, Hamyang-gun, Anui-myeon
Sangnim Park
Sangnim is a forest located along the banks of Wicheon Stream, flowing west of Hamyang-eup. It is said to have been created by Master Choi Chiwon during the reign of Queen Jinseong of Silla. At that time, the Wicheon Stream flowed through the center of Hamyang-eup, causing severe flood damage. Master Choi Chiwon built a levee to divert the river to its current location, planted trees along the riverbank, and created the forest that has been maintained to this day.
The forest was originally called Daegwanrim and was well protected, effectively preventing flood damage. Over time, it was divided into Sangnim and Harim sections, with the Harim area being degraded due to human activities, leaving only a few trees standing. Sangnim remains the only place preserving the original forest. The beauty of Sangnim can be enjoyed throughout the seasons—lush greenery in spring, verdant foliage in summer, vibrant autumn leaves, and serene winter landscapes. In the summer, laying a picnic blanket under the shade of trees in Sangnim allows visitors to experience a refreshing escape from the city.
The forest trails in Sangnim provide a romantic and family-friendly setting for conversations and love. With over 120 tree species planted along a 1.6 km levee spanning 99,200 square meters, Sangnim serves as a great natural learning center for children. (Source: Hamyang County Cultural Tourism)
• Address (location): 49 Pilbongsan-gil, Hamyang-eup, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
Hahoe Village
Located at the final village where the river and mountains meet, at the end point of the 3rd course of Jirisan Dulle-gil, this village in Macheon-myeon boasts abundant sunlight and easy-on-the-eyes scenery. Like the lyrics of a folk song say, “In autumn, the villagers hang persimmons after cutting them.” Visitors can enjoy the picturesque sight of persimmons being harvested and dried. The famous leisure spot, Chilseon Valley of Jirisan, offers cultivation of ferns and persimmons as main crops. With a guide center for Jirisan Dulle-gil, it also supports local farmers by promoting homestay businesses. The village has a separate area designated for groups of returnees and retirees, and there are plans to welcome more newcomers looking to settle or return to the countryside in the future.
• Address (location): 11-3, Geumgye-an-gil, Macheon-myeon, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
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Maepyeong Mountain Village
Maepyeong Mountain Village is a charming village located next to the famous Sansam Resort Valley in Hamyang. Just a 10-minute drive away, you can visit Gapyeong Hanok Village, a representative tourist spot and historic site in Hamyang, as well as Sangnim Road, which leads to Hamyang’s landmark. If you are planning an active trip to Jirisan Mountain starting from Hamyang, consider Maepyeong Mountain Village. The village’s main agricultural products include chestnuts, perilla leaves, and wild vegetables. Maepyeong Mountain Village offers experiential activities, accommodation facilities, and restaurants for visitors to enjoy.
• Address (location): 315 Byeonggokjigok-ro, Byeonggok-myeon, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
Songjeon Mountain Village Ecological Village
Welcome to Oji Village in Hyucheon-myeon, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do. Situated with Mount Jirisan in the background and the beautiful Eomcheon River flowing in front, this village, once known as Oji Village, was designated as a mountain village for ecological living in 2007. From managing vacation resorts to offering experiential programs, the villagers have actively participated in creating a vibrant community. Just a short distance from Songjeon Village, you can find Baeksong Temple and Seoamjeong Temple. Baeksong Temple, founded by the monk Baeksong during the Joseon Dynasty, was rebuilt after being destroyed during the Korean War. Odojae and Jianjae are also must-visit spots in Hamyang, offering unique experiences for travelers.
• Address (location): 198 Songjeon-gil, Hyucheon-myeon, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
Unseo Village
Hucheon Village is known for being the narrowest village where people can live, with houses scattered rather than densely packed. It is famous for its wild edible plants, with high-quality mountain vegetables growing here. A historical monument stands in front of the village, commemorating the record that Kim Jong-jik, a virtuous official who became the mayor after being appointed by the King, cultivated tea trees to reduce the damage caused by people’s excessive demand for tea. According to Kim Jong-jik’s travelogue written in 1472 after exploring Mount Jirisan, the legendary tale of a woman stacking stones between rocks to cultivate virtue and ascending to the sky is associated with the present-day Dokbawi Rock in Hamyang.
• Address (location): 1075 Unseo-ri, Hyucheon-myeon, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
Yeojung Village
As you pass through Euitan Village and cross over the narrow path, you will come across Uijung Village with its low houses and charming alleys scattered around. In May, you can witness the process of collecting sap from lacquer trees at a workshop that continues the tradition of lacquer coating, turning the village into a lush green paradise. Collecting sap by making incisions in the lacquer tree is called ‘saengchil,’ while cutting and roasting the tree to extract the sap is known as ‘hwachil.’ During ancient times, the people of Uijung Village believed in the healing properties of the lacquer sap so much that they consumed it as a medicinal tonic, with some even saying that the land here contained gold underground and lacquer trees above ground.
• Address (location): 38-2 Euijung-gil, Machon-myeon, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
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Utan Village
The second village among the six mountain villages along Course 4 of the Jirisan Circular Trail is EuiTan Village. Located past the abandoned EuiTan Elementary School and EuiTan Bridge in Geumgye Village, it serves as a hub for mountain activities on the northeastern slope of Jirisan. Legend has it that during the reign of King Goryeo Hyeongmyeong, charcoal made from pine trees was not burned here, prompting the name ‘Charcoal Tan,’ while another theory suggests it may have been named ‘Stream Tan’ due to the flowing water. Though the exact origin remains unclear, historical records indicate that the Park family from Hamyang and the Jeong family from Gyeongju once lived here after migrating from Namwon.
• Address (location): 3, Geumgyeangil, Machen-myeon, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea.
Changwon Village
Changwon Village is located in the Inwol-Gumgye section of the Jirisan Dulle-gil trail. Originally known as Changwon Village, also called ‘Changwon Village of Warehouses,’ it is a rural farming and village community with a strong tradition of economic self-reliance. The village is characterized by lush rice paddies, winding alleyways, houses lined with walnut and persimmon trees, and some homes still using traditional thatched roofs. Visitors can also enjoy a cozy village café called ‘Annyeong,’ run by the Seokbong family who appeared on KBS’s . One of the highlights of Changwon Village is a naturally formed heart-shaped tree tunnel along the path leading to Dungujae, a spot popular among hikers exploring Jirisan Mountain.
• Address (location): Changwon-ri, Macheon-myeon, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
Changwon Sancheon Ecovillage
Changwon, formerly known as Changmal which originated from a warehouse village storing various goods during the Joseon Dynasty in Macheon-myeon, merged with a neighboring village to become the present-day city. Just like its origins as a warehouse village, Changwon is still a thriving rural village with high economic self-sufficiency. The village is characterized by rice paddies, firewood fences, narrow village alleys, and houses lined with walnut and persimmon trees, with some houses still using thatched roofs. At the edge of the village on the way to Odorae Pass in Hamyang, there is a lush and abundant agricultural village of Jirisan with over 300 years old nutmeg and oak trees forming a wide terrace on the hillside, where travelers bid farewell and offer rest stops. It is a rich and plentiful farming village nestled in the geographical beauty of Jirisan.
• Address (location): 45 Changwon Arat-gil, Macheon-myeon, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
Chuseong Mountain Village
Chuseongsan Village is a charming village nestled at the foothills of Mount Jirisan, one of the most famous mountains in Korea, and it is also home to one of the top three valleys in the country, Chilseon Valley. Therefore, Chuseongsan Village serves as a basecamp for those looking to climb Mount Jirisan. The hiking trail from Chuseongsan Village to Cheonwangbong Peak follows along Chilseon Valley, offering breathtaking views of numerous waterfalls such as Soseontang, Seonnyeotang, Biseondam, Chilseon Waterfall, Daeryuk Waterfall, and Mapo Waterfall. The Chuseongsan Village Ecological Experience Center is located right at the entrance of the village, just above the public parking lot. The center features a cafe, experiential workshops, a local specialty shop, and accommodation facilities for visitors to enjoy.
• Address (location): 226 Chilseon-ro, Macheon-myeon, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
Jirisan Insect Ecopark
In 1999, by chance, I started raising stag beetles as pets and became interested in insects. In 2000, I began raising various stag beetles and longhorn beetles in earnest. In 2006, to operate an insect farm properly, I relocated my farm to Sangwon-ri, Anui-myeon, Hamyang-gun and set up a 100 square meter insect exhibition hall showcasing specimens from home and abroad. In the 265 square meter insect-exclusive greenhouse, visitors can learn about insects’ lives throughout the four seasons, creating a unique learning space. In the insect breeding room, you can see and touch larvae and adult insects firsthand, while in the insect experience learning center, we use workbooks for hands-on learning along with visual education. Across from the farm buildings, we have created a 1,984 square meter lotus pond area, providing a space to enjoy the rural scenery from spring to fall.
• Address (location): 119-2 Yongchu Valley Road, Anui-myeon, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
Hamyang Wine Valley
Hamyang Wine Valley is a healing farm located on a small plateau at an altitude of 500 meters on the foothills of Jirisan Mountain. Visitors can enjoy a variety of experiences related to wild berries, such as wine tours, making their own wine, wine foot baths, and even making soap from wild berries. In addition, there are hands-on programs available for making clocks, mugs, and more, catering to different interests. The surrounding area is perfect for leisurely walks. This innovative farm boosts rural income through wild berry farming, branding its products as luxury goods. By leveraging wild berries as a theme for tourism, it realizes the 6th industrialization of wild berries and creates a new income model for rural areas, leading the way in innovative agriculture practices.
• Address (location): 442-14 Sambong-ro, Hamyang-eup, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do