A Train Trip into the Jeju Gotjawal Forest: A Day at EcoLand Theme Park

The Lincoln Train Carrying the Breath of the Forest

Following Beonyeong-ro in Jocheon-eup, Jeju, you encounter a place where time seems to have stopped. As soon as you arrive at EcoLand Theme Park, the cheerful whistle of the train raises the excitement of the trip. The park’s iconic Lincoln Train is a reproduction of the 1800s Baldwin steam locomotive, handcrafted in the UK. Instead of cold, metallic noise, the wind carries the scent of the forest into the passenger cars.

I began crossing the 30,000-pyeong Gotjawal forest on the rattling train. With every rotation of the wheels, the smell of the forest deepens. This mysterious forest, 'Gotjawal,' is a place where trees have taken root in rugged volcanic rock terrain, creating a paradise for flora and fauna. Seeing southern-limit plants and northern-limit plants harmoniously intertwined was a true wonder of nature.

The Great Records of Life from Gotjawal

When I got off the train to walk the trails, I understood why Gotjawal is called a 'mysterious forest.' I felt a sense of solemnity seeing the trees that persistently took root through the cracks in the rocks. From the moss covering the dark rocks to the trees reaching their branches toward the sky in search of a single ray of light, this place was not just for viewing beautiful scenery, but a space to witness intense vitality.

Even the air feels different. The moist air of the forest seems to penetrate deep into the lungs, washing away accumulated stress. The laughter of children, the sound of leaves rustling in the wind, and the flapping of unknown insects blend to create a perfect orchestra of nature. I could walk comfortably, seeing traces of efforts to capture nature's providence without damaging it.

Travel Tips and the Romance of Jeju

EcoLand has a different charm throughout the four seasons, but I highly recommend visiting between May and June, when the greenery of the forest is at its peak, or in the early morning of autumn when the forest settles into a calm atmosphere. It is much better to arrive around 10 AM rather than late in the afternoon to slowly enjoy the leisure of Gotjawal. Located in Jocheon-eup, Jeju, it makes for a fulfilling day trip if combined with nearby Saryeoni Forest Path (Saryeoni Sup-gil) or Kyorae Natural Recreation Forest (Kyorae Jayeon Hyuyangnim).

During the 4.5km train ride, the scenery unfolding outside the window looks like a picture in a frame, and sometimes like a scene from a fairy tale. Let’s not rush. The vitality shown by Gotjawal is best seen when walking slowly. With the romance of a train trip meeting the great nature of Gotjawal, it was a precious afternoon where I could momentarily forget the complexities of the city and focus entirely on the time between 'myself' and 'nature'.