Geumwonsan Recreation Forest

Run by the Geumwonsan Forest Resource Management Office, this site is split into two parts: an ecological arboretum and a recreation forest. The arboretum, on the slopes of Geumwonsan at one of the highest elevations of its kind in Korea, stands out in particular — it was built to collect, preserve, and display around 1,500 species of rare and native plants.

The rhododendron garden holds alpine plants including rhododendron itself, while the rock garden features species adapted to rocky terrain. Following the valley stream down, you'll find broad flat rocks where kids can wade and play in summer.

Admission is genuinely cheap — ₩1,000 for adults, ₩600 for teens and military, ₩300 for children. Note that if you're staying overnight in one of the cabins ("forest houses"), admission and parking are charged separately.

The forest itself is open 9am–6pm, with cabin check-in at 2pm and check-out by 11am the next day, year-round. It sits fairly deep in the mountains outside Geochang town, so a car is essentially required to get here.