Get out in the open and see where it leads, say mountain walkway enthusiasts
Oksunbong Suspension Bridge
A stroll through nature rarely brings the heart-pounding adrenaline rush of a rollercoaster and its twists and turns.
But sometimes it can, said Lim Hyung-jin, a rollercoaster enthusiast who regularly takes his wife and their two grade school children to mountain walkways.
“We get to be out in nature, so that’s good for the kids, and my wife and I need an outlet for emotional release,” Lim said of his recent trip to the Oksunbong Suspension Bridge in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province.
The walkway, stretching 222 meters and standing 50 meters above a lake, is just the place for those looking to release pent-up energy, Lim said, adding that the bridge often sways from side to side due to the wind and the footsteps of dozens of pedestrians.
“That’s the thrill that makes the trip exhilarating. You know you won’t fall off and yet you feel you’re coming close to it,” Lim said. “The unobstructed panoramic view from the middle of the bridge is really something.”
The Jecheon walkway opened in October 2021 and drew close to 700,000 visitors for about a year, according to city data. The daily average now is 2,000, city officials said.
Meer 309 Suspension Bridge
This walkway spanning 309 meters over a lake in Jincheon-gun, North Chungcheong Province, is the longest suspension bridge in the country that doesn’t require central bridge towers to support the deck evenly.
So pedestrians will find themselves closer to the lake below as they approach the halfway point, an experience made all the more dizzying by the structure swinging slightly from side to side, according to Park Nam-gi, an avid mountaineer who describes the walk as liberating.
“The middle of the deck is where the bridge is most crowded because of the view,” Park said. “But somehow, I don’t feel as squeezed in that tight spot. I think that’s because I’m out in the open.”
The Meer bridge has been a popular stop for mountaineers as it provides access to the wider Meer Forest Park. The park is divided into six themed forestlands and offers hiking trails of varying difficulty.
“It’s more like a walk than a hike in the woods if you choose the right course,” said Jeong Sun-mi, a dabbler who seeks “forest therapy” — her description of breathing in phytoncides, the aromatic oils released by trees that some research finds to be therapeutic.
The park has an observatory and a cafe.
Daewangam Suspension Bridge
The Daewangam Suspension Bridge in Ulsan sits within Daewangam Park along the country’s east coast.
The 303-meter walkway connects trails across the park, taking hikers up to stunning viewpoints. Some 770,000 people traveled to the bridge last year, according to city data.
The high attendance is owed to the fact that the park has more than the bridge to offer, city officials said, pointing to the varieties of flowers — cherry blossoms, magnolias, camellias, apricots, forsythias and hydrangeas.
The park has a lighthouse looking out over the East Sea, another favorite stop for travelers.
Wonju Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge
The Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge in Wonju, Gangwon Province, spans a canyon. The bridge, 202 meters in length, has a second walkway next to it that’s twice as long, designed for thrill seekers.
Rail bikes and cable cars are also available around Sogeumsan, a 350-meter-tall mountain. Sogeumsan features an expansive network of cable cars that makes for spectacular mountain views.
“The convenience of cable rides and the proximity to Seoul were the only considerations I had when I made the trip there last year,” said Nam Mi-hyun, one of 4 million people who have stopped at Sogeumsan since it opened in 2018.
Sogeumsan is located two and a half hours from Seoul Station by KTX and two hours by car.
siyoungchoi@heraldcorp.com
