Anmyeondo was once a peninsula but several hundred years ago a canal was constructed, separating it from the mainland. It is now connected by a bridge on Route 77, and is a popular tourist destination with its many fine beaches and inner mountain areas.
The pine trees there provided prime timber for royal buildings and for ships, but was largely plundered by the occupying Japanese from 1910 to the end of World War II. Aggressive conservation programs, however, have preserved and restored the majestic pines in many areas of the island.
This recreation area has an extensive network of trails, botanical gardens with interpretative signs, and log house style lodging. There are parking areas on both sides of the highway (77), and the waymark coordinates are for the east parking lot. There is a 3,000 won charge for parking and 1,000 won admission.
From the official tourism site, Visit Korea:
Taean’s Anmyeondo Recreational Forest is the only recreation forest in Taean district. It is a very unique tourism spot and also features a beach and lush wooded area ideal for walking. Anmyeondo is famous for its original pine trees that tower toward the sky. These pine trees were once used as timber during the Joseon Dynasty.
From the entrance of Anmyeondo Recreational Forest there is a beautiful pine forest. There are also yellow earth grass roofed houses, forest lodge, and other lodging.
Pine Trees in Anmyeon Island
The genus of pine tree is assumed to have appeared on the earth around 170 million years ago in the end of Triassic Period of the Mesozoic Era and to have increased in the Korean Peninsula from 2~3 thousand years ago. There are some 80 kinds of pine tree around the world, and 39 including varieties in Korea.
Anmyeon Island pine tree, which is red pine, has a tall and upright trunk and a very beautiful umbrella-shaped form. Moreover, compared to pine trees in other areas, it is hard thanks to its high heartwood rate.
Most of the pine forest in Anmyeon Island is a hilly mountainous area 60m above the sea level (highest point ~ 108m). From ancient times, the entire island was covered with thick woods and transportation through sea routes was available, so the government in the Koryo Dynasty (918-1392) put the island consistently under special management and the Chosun Dynasty (1392-1910) designated 73 places as Bongsan and managed them intensively as the sources of timbers for building palaces and ships. In 1927 under the rule of Japanese Imperialism, the ownership of Anmyeon Island (6,400ha) fell into the hand of “Masaeng Sangjeon” Co. Ltd. And innumerable fine trees were destroyed by the government’s development policies, but Chungcheongnam-do, which took over the forest in 1965, has made efforts in preservation, forestation, prevention of damages by diseases and harmful insects and thinning and, as a consequence, today’s pine forest in Anmyeon Island is maintaining its 1,000 years’ history.
The area of pine woods in Anmyeon Island is around 2,770ha or 23% of the total area of the island (11,918ha). The oldest pine tree is 120 years old and the average accumulation is 105m3/ha but it is as high as 370 m3/ha at the areas around Seungeon-ri and Jeongdang-ri.
Chuncheongnam-do designated 115ha around the resort area as “Protected Forest of Pine Tree Genetic Resource” in 1978, and Forest Seed Research Center of National Forest Research Institute: under the Forest Government Information Agency, which is located at Jungjang-ri near the forest, is screening and breeding superior breeds.
The Asia-Pacific Forest Committee of FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) Selected 31 exemplary case of forest management in March 2005 and the pine forest in Anmyeon Island was the only case included among them in Korea. This shows that the historical value, well-preserved biological diversity, landscape and recreational functions in Anmyeon Island have been recognized in international society as well.