Mungyeong Saejae Provincial Park

Mungyeong SaeJae Provincial Park is in North Gyeongsang province, South Korea. It is along the border with Chungcheongbukdo in the city of Mungyeong. It's just off Highway 3, and near the expressway 35/45.

Understand

History

This park was formed in 1981.

Landscape

The park consists of a valley surrounded by mountains.

Climate

It's up in the mountains, so expect cooler and wetter weather.

Get in

Drive there from Seoul or Daegu on Expressway 35/45. Get off at the Mungyeong Saejae interchange if you are approaching from the south, or at the Yeonpung interchange if from the north. Then take Highway three to the entrance road. It's 3 km down that side road to the park.

Or take a local bus from Jeomchon or from Mungyeong-eup to Kwan-mun. This is the entrance to the park. Check the schedule in advance - they don't come very often. Intercity buses from Tong-Seoul, Daegu, and elsewhere stop at Mungyeong-eup, from where you can take the local bus or a taxi. It's about 6 km from the Mungyeong bus station to the park.

Another option is to start at the north end of the trail. This entails, by car, parking a fair bit below the road's end and walking (all uphill) from there. Or, take a local bus from Suanbo or Yeonpung and walk the 3–4 km, all uphill, to the Saejae pass.

Get around

Walk.

See

• There's a movie set a ways up the trail. It's a traditional Korean village - the southern part has grass roofs, the northern part is where the yangban live (or would live if anyone lived there.)
• A museum near the park entrance.
• The three stone gates.

Do

• Hike along the old route between Kyeongsangdo and Seoul. Climb the mountains on either side.
• Visit the temple, the movie set.

Buy

The tourist village is at the south entrance to the park. The usual things are there: restaurants, minbaks, souvenir shops.

Eat

Restaurants are in the tourist village. You can also find some establishments along the trail. Identify them by the loud music they play, audible for much too far through the forest.

Drink

Soju. Or, there's a nice mineral spring, Jagok Yaksu, partway up the trail.

Sleep