In Sang-an-ri, Hoengseong, Gangwon Province, a large larch (nakyeopsong) forest planted from 1938 has become the largest and oldest larch stand in the region. Once part of the old Route 42 and the historic Gwandong Road connecting Hanyang (old Seoul) to Gangwon, the winding road fell out of use after a tunnel opened in 1995. The trees remain: 53 hectares of mixed artificial and natural woodland—including larch, pine, birch, fir, and stone pine (jatnamu)—now serve as a national reforestation success story and an outdoor education site. The forest features four marked trails, remnants of past swidden-farming settlements, and mature larches reaching 18–26 m in height. Locals value the woods not only for modest income from pine nuts but as a place of rest, cultural memory, and community identity. Designated one of Korea’s top 100 notable forests in 2023, Sang-an-ri exemplifies how reforestation, historical routes, and village life can harmonize to revive rural landscapes.
