Damyang Juknokwon & Gwanbangjerim

Gwanbangjerim is a forest made to hold back floods. The Damyang County culture and tourism guide says that in the 26th year of King Injo of Joseon (1648) the magistrate Seong I-seong built an embankment and began planting trees, and that in the 5th year of King Cheoljong (1854) the magistrate Hwang Jong-rim rebuilt the embankment and created the forest, as the story goes. The Korea Heritage Service valued it as historical and cultural material showing the wisdom with which our ancestors guarded against natural disasters, and designated it Natural Monument No. 366 on 27 November 1991. The section historically called Gwanbangje runs about 2 km to the cattle market at Cheonbyeon-ri.

In 2004 Gwanbangjerim won the grand prize at the 5th Beautiful Forest National Contest, held by the Korea Forest Service together with the National Campaign for Tending Forests of Life and Yuhan-Kimberly.

Juknokwon was created in May 2003 and opened in March 2005. Its area is about 310,000 ㎡ (310,238 ㎡). The Chuseongchangui Memorial Hall in the Siga Culture Village was completed on 20 July 2012. It is a building made by restoring the scene, to honor the history that Damyang is where the righteous army leader Go Gyeong-myeong raised troops during the Imjin War.

Juknokwon is open 09:00 to 19:00 (last entry 18:00) from March to October and 09:00 to 18:00 (last entry 17:30) from November to February, with no closing day. After visiting hours the whole area is closed off, so if you come out late, the guidance is to leave through the Art Center.

As of the viewing date (2026-10-10), individual fees are 3,000 won for general admission, 1,500 won for youth (middle and high school students) and soldiers (staff sergeant and below), and 1,000 won for elementary school students, and groups of 20 or more pay 2,400 won for general admission. Children under 6 and people aged 65 and over show ID, collect a ticket and then enter; the guide does not state whether this also applies to foreigners aged 65 and over. There is no separate fee or hours guidance for Gwanbangjerim.

The grounds are non-smoking, and bringing in food and cooking are not allowed. Do not scribble on the bamboo or pick bamboo shoots, and bicycles and electric scooters cannot be brought in. Large dogs cannot enter, and small dogs are carried in. Wheelchairs are borrowed and returned at the rear gate ticket office, and because of the terrain, wheelchairs and strollers are recommended only around the Siga Culture Village. The bamboo-vinegar foot bath experience hall is open 09:00 to 18:00 (break 12:00 to 13:00), 15 minutes for 1 session at 3,000 won, and card payment only.

The directions follow the official Juknokwon guide. From Gwangju Station take bus No. 311; the official guide writes the stop as the "bus stop behind Juknokwon". From Songjeong Station, go to Gwangju Station or Gwangju U-Square Bus Terminal and take No. 311 from the stop in front of the terminal main gate. From Seoul Central City (Honam line) to Damyang Bus Terminal it is written as 4 trips a day (08:10, 11:10, 14:10, 17:10). Times can change, so check again before you set out. For cars, the guide points to the Damyang Jonghap Cheyukgwan public parking lot in front of the main gate (134 Juknokwon-ro).