“It is too pretty to be a dam.”

I dare use superlatives to describe the dam. Gimcheon Buhang Dam is outright the loveliest dam in Korea with lots of highlights to enjoy, and is an eco-friendly dam as well. You may think that a dam is just that and couldn’t be any different. But you will realize it is not just an ordinary dam once you visit it. The dam is full of creative sculptures and structures that are the longest, highest and a first-ever in Korea. The natural landscape that provides the backdrop for the dam is unique. It looks as if it is floating in the middle of a forest and is cradled by a large bowl of clear, blue water placed among a forest and field. The winding road stretches along the lakefront that is shaped like a rias shoreline, while the lush forest that unfolds along the road is just as beautiful as the dam itself.

The “Go · Cho · Jang” Tour

Gimcheon Buhang Dam is a relatively small dam, with a total volume of 54 million tons and basin area of 82㎢. It is only 1/10 the size of Imha Dam in Andong, Gyeongsanbuk-do, but is one of the most well-known dams in the country. The dam drew keen attention when its construction began in 2013. At the center of national spotlight, it was associated with the bywords ‘tourism resources’ and ‘coexistence.’ The trifecta that makes Gimcheon Buhang Dam a national tourist attraction is the Rainbow Zip Wire, the highest in Korea; the first completely open skywalk; and the 256m-long suspension bridge, the longest in Korea. These three thrill-packed tourist attractions make up the so-called ‘Go · Cho · Jang’ tour. The term is derived three Korean words: ‘Go’ means ‘the highest’, ‘Cho’ means ‘the first’ and ‘Jang’ means ‘the longest.’
In addition, Sannaedeul Park offering an auto camping site, leisure facilities, and a swimming pool was opened and recently, the Eco & Recreational Pension has been opened, making the dam an even more fun place. These provide a few of the top reasons to set aside a day to visit Gimcheon Buhang Dam.

“Walk and Think of the Value of Coexistence”

In a sense, speed and scenery are inversely proportional. The faster you move, the fuzzier the scenery appears. The slower you go, the clearer the scenery looks. Coexistence is one of the two key words that make Gimcheon Buhang Dam more than just a dam. Reflect on the meaning of the word as you walk at a leisure pace A trekking trail stretches along the edge of the lake at the dam. The trail, which is 8 km long and takes about two hours to finish, starts at the Water Cultural Center, runs along the embankment of the dam and connects the suspension bridge (spawning ground), Rainbow Zip Wire, Eco-Recreational Pension, Jijwa Bridge, Buhang Bridge and Yuchon Bridge before finally returning to the museum. Intertwined along the trail are the value of coexistence, and cultural and artistic content that this one-of-a-kind dam features.

Cultural and artistic content featuring mainly creative and ingenious sculptures are placed in spots where people least expect to see them around the Water Cultural Center, such as the surface of the intake tower, safety fences, the roof, and rocks. Facilities designed for local residents or the coexistence of animals and plants are scattered across the dam site.
The first thing that caught my eyes was the slope of the dam. Different kinds of trees and plants that grow around the dam are planted on different levels of the slope, making it look like a green hill or multicolored flower garden if seen from a distance. Both people and animals now come to enjoy the beautiful landscape. You can witness various efforts made to preserve the ecological corridors along and around the trail. The inside of both the right and left sides of the spillway(a structure used to control the released waterflow) is connected by an ecological corridor, and you can find otter habitats in many different parts of the dam, which have been created to protect the species designated as a natural monument. The spawning ground under the suspension bridge and artificial wetlands at the upper and lower streams of the dam are also worth a visit. Sometimes, the solar-powered water circulation apparatuses glisten on the surface of the blue water. Perhaps, these aspects are why the key word ‘coexistence’ stood out in my mind as I walked along the waterfront trail along Gimcheon Buhang Dam. Walking on the trail made me think how I can make my travel more friendly to nature and Earth.