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| A forest path along the Songpa Trail, Seoul / Courtesy of Songpa District |
Inhale the scent of spring along scenic urban trail, encourages forest guide
By Lee Hae-rin
"Here, this light brown tree is a mulberry tree," Yim Hong-soon, 70, a forest guide, said, pointing to the tree standing at the entrance of the Songpa Trail in Seoul's southern district of the same name. "The mulberry tree is the symbol of Jamsil― 'Jam' comes from the Chinese character meaning silkworms and the region has long been a silkworm facility since the Joseon Dynasty."
Yim went on to say how the tree is a generous giver from its roots to its leaves.
Old records show that King Sejong of Joseon Dynasty designated Jamsil, one of the neighborhoods in Songpa District, as a site for the national silkworm farm and built a mulberry forest to boost the country's key sericulture business. Apartment complexes and skyscrapers now stand where the silkworm nursery was located in the past, but one of the oldest mulberry trees in this area, which is over 500 years old, was registered as Seoul's first regional monument.
The gray-haired guide wearing an explorer's outfit then spotted a flock of birds around the tree and said gently with a smile, "Do you hear them sing? It is now the birds' breeding season ― a very busy time for them ― and that's why they're singing so beautifully, to find their other half," Yim said.
The senior volunteer went on to explain how magpies are fierce fighters and exquisite architects that build nests with over 7,000 branches, while rufous turtle doves are lesser-known lovebirds that always travel in couples.
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| Forest expert guide Yim Hong-soon, second from the left wearing a hat, tells stories about oak trees during a forest guided tour along the Songpa Trail. Courtesy of Yim Hong-soon |
As a life-long mountain climber and a nature-lover, Yim has been a volunteer forest guide for 12 years, shedding light on the city's flora and fauna for curious strollers, after retiring from his business in the ICT sector. He is the leader of 34 forest guide experts in the Forest and Rest Association, a forest education group registered to the Korea Forest Service.
"As forest experts, we came together from very different backgrounds after retirement with a common interest in forests and nature. Some of us were teachers, CEOs and military officers," Yim explained while giving a guided tour to The Korea Times on April 9.
"It takes a lot of study and effort to become forest guides, so we come together every month to attend seminars and courses," he said, adding that he even chose to study further after retirement and acquired a certificate in agriculture and dendrology.
As a longtime resident of the district, Yim and his colleagues chose to offer unique promenade experiences along the scenic trail of Songpa in southeastern Seoul.
The Songpa Trail consists of a unique network of four hiking courses, featuring an urban forest and conserved ecosystem, covering up the region with a waterway path that stretches over 21 kilometers. As many residents of the district say, "All the roads in Songpa lead to the Songpa Trail."
Unlike other signature trails in Seoul, which are built around famous mountains such as Mt. Nam and Mt. Inwang, the Songpa Trail is a loop that runs along ecological streams for 88 percent of its walk.
It is also home to 223 species of trees, flowers, birds and animals. Recently, a family of otters, which is registered as endangered species, was discovered to be living in the stream, showing how clean the waterway is.
The Songpa Trail offers four walking courses along different waterways: a cherry blossom tunnel along Seongnaecheon stream, a woodland trail with giant trees along Jangjicheon stream, a bird watching path along the Tancheon stream, and the Han River course that is popular among campers and cyclists.
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| The cherry blossom tunnel along the Seongnaecheon stream of the Songpa Trail, Seoul / Courtesy of Yim Hong-soon |
However, what makes the visit to the scenic trail more special is the guidance of forest experts like Yim who tell stories about the district's harmonious coexistence of people and nature.
On the day of the tour, different groups of people were enjoying a spring Saturday afternoon with their friends and family members ― from toddlers taking baby steps, teenagers taking selfies together, and middle-aged walkers working out at the park's exercise facilities.
Yim's tales of plants and animals continued during the two hours of the walk, stopping as some passersby, both old and young, wanted to hear Yim's explanations. From why yew trees have red fruit to how fringe trees resembled bowls of white rice to hungry people in the past, Yim's tales fascinated strollers.
The special thing about the trail, according to Yim, is that offers a real forest experience in an urban setting. Trees on the street, planted without enough distance from each other and on top of underground facilities, often fail to grow to their natural size and shape, unlike the giant trees along the streams in the trail.
From his 12 years of experience as a forest guide, Yim said that his greatest reward as forest guide is seeing people develop interest in the ecosystem and learn to appreciate nature.
"It's a great pleasure to let more people know which flowers bloom in spring and how trees sprout. I love seeing their happy faces when they are surrounded by the greatness of nature and truly appreciate it," Yim said.
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| People walk along the waterway of the Songpa Trail, April 29, 2020. Korea Times photo by Hong In-ki |
