Yolo Gamnaetgil Course 8 doesn’t overlap with any of the official numbered Gamnaetgil sections, which makes it one of those routes you’d genuinely have to go looking for — not something you’d stumble onto by accident. My friend Seoyeon and I made the trip specifically because of that, taking a village bus from Seodaesin Station out to Kkotmaeul, or “Flower Village,” a small neighborhood tucked against Guduksan.
A mural wall near the start of the walk, marking Kkotmaeul as a quiet rest stop tucked into the city.
Route waypoints
An uphill start into Guduk Cultural Park
The walk was part of a joint event with the deaf community, a sign language interpreter working alongside the lead guide throughout. From the gathering point at the entrance to Seogu’s cross-district trekking forest trail, the route climbs almost immediately — one of the tougher starts among the Yolo-series courses — past Guduk Cultural Park’s entrance and a surprisingly substantial forest experience center for young children.
Onto the forest road, past wildflowers
At the top of the initial climb, the guide paused to point out a cluster of astilbe flowers growing along the trail before the route settled into a vehicle-free forest road for a long, steady stretch. It’s the kind of detail easy to miss walking alone, but with someone pointing it out, wildflowers most people would otherwise walk straight past suddenly become worth a second look.
Jaeneomi Marutuh rest stop and a sunset view
At Jaeneomi Marutuh, a proper rest stop with restrooms and shared snacks, part of the trail splits into several branches — a moment where more than a few people in the group nervously asked whether the next stretch meant another climb, visibly relieved when told it was downhill instead. A short detour to a sunset viewing area gave a preview worth coming back for outside of a group walk, ideally timed for actual sunset rather than midday.
Seunghaksan’s azalea grounds and silver grass ridge
The trail continues through green forest path — shared with the occasional cyclist, so the group moved single file for safety — past a bare rock viewpoint glimpsed rather than fully explored, and up a short staircase to Seunghangmaru Pavilion. There, in the shade of a striking pine tree, the guide explained how to tell silver grass and common reed apart, a distinction most of the group admitted they’d never actually needed to make until that moment.
The silver grass fields and Dangni’s forest healing grounds
At the summit — the silver grass field that gives this route its scenic centerpiece — the whole group paused for photos before the guide, correctly, warned that the return would be steep and slippery, cushioned rubber matting or not. The descent toward Dangni wound through Seunghaksan Healing Forest, a name that felt earned given how many quiet, meditation-friendly clearings the trail passed through along the way, framed by tall cedar and Korean pine.
Trail info at a glance
- Distance: approx. 7 km
- Walking time: about 2.5 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate — a steep uphill start, one notable descent near the finish
- Start: Kkotmaeul (Flower Village), near Guduk Cultural Park
- Finish: Jeseokgol, Dangni (near Dongwon Benest Apartments)
- Highlights: Seunghaksan silver grass field, the sunset viewing area, Seunghaksan Healing Forest
Map of the route
The route at a glance
A few practical notes
Since this course doesn’t overlap with the official Gamnaetgil route, it takes some deliberate planning to reach — a village bus from Seodaesin Station to Kkotmaeul is the easiest way in. The silver grass field is worth timing for autumn if you want the classic golden look, though the trail’s shaded forest sections make it comfortable even in summer heat. The descent near the finish is steep, so take it slowly regardless of season.
For getting to Seodaesin Station and Seogu district, see our guide to getting around Busan.
Walked in mid-June on a warm, humid day, as part of a joint accessible community walking event.
More walks nearby
Other walks in Gamcheon to Dadaepo on this site: