Comfort in Taean: Walking the West Coast’s Serene Trails
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
Writer Jin Wooseok explores Taean, Chungnam, a coastal town famed for its many trails and part of the long West Coast trail ‘Seohaerang-gil’ (a 1,800 km long-distance trail). He walks sections 72–73 on the Iwon Peninsula, starting at Kkuzinamu-gol Beach and looping to Mandae Port. The route follows cliffs and forested ridges, passing sites with charming Korean place names like Eorigol and Yeolsanggeum (local toponyms), scenic spots such as Warangchang (a sea-cave that echoes like a wash) and Yongnangul (a cave with a dragon legend), and wide coastal viewpoints including Gamabong and Ipseongkkeut observatories. The story highlights the grassroots effort after the 2007 Taean oil spill: volunteer Cha Yoon-chun and others carved and maintained the paths—memorialized by a statue—enabling safer access to these coastal vistas. The walk ends with fresh seafood at Mandae Port and a reflective sunset, a fitting way to let the year’s burdens go. Practical notes: the loop is about 17 km (≈5 hours); Mandae Port is the only reliable lunch stop, so bring food if needed.
