Deogyu National Park in North Jeolla Province

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

The scenic Mt. Deogyu forms a part of the Korean Peninsula’s ``spine,’’ the Baekdu-daegan mountain ridge, and was designated the country’s 10th national park in 1975.

The park covers 219 square kilometers, from Muju and Jangsu, North Jeolla Province to Geochang and Hamyang, South Gyeongsang Province. Muju Resort, which features some of the country’s steepest and longest slopes, is situated at the base of the mountain.

The highest peak, Hyangjeok summit, rises 1,614 meters above sea level. Its cascading landscape includes 33 scenic spots comprising cliffs, bedrocks, creeks and waterfalls. The mountain is considered to embody ``deog’’ or virtue, and thus the name Mt. Deogyu.

The park boasts of diverse alpine flora and fauna. While the mountain is still covered with snow, wild plants native to the region are blooming back to life.

Whitlow grass, ginger plants and aquatica blossoms among others have started to sprout up in the Gucheondong Stream area. Early next month, visitors can expect to see anemone raddeana regel, Manchurian violets and vernale flowers, and at the end of April, corydalis, Japanese flowering dogwood and bistort.

A couple of Buddhist temples can be found within the park and many others are scattered nearby.

Baekryeon Temple, located in the Muju side of the park, dates back to the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-935 A.D.) and houses some of the region’s treasures. Baekyreonsa stone staircase, for example, is North Jeolla Province’s Tangible Cultural Property No. 42.

hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr