"Sejong Mountain Trails 16," a book illuminating the historical and cultural values embedded in 16 mountains across Sejong City, has been published through the joint authorship of four individuals, including public officials and journalists. Beyond practical information such as hiking courses and estimated durations, the book incorporates humanistic stories including local place-name origins and legends, introducing Sejong's mountains as spaces accumulated with regional history and lives. This publication is expected to serve as an opportunity to establish Sejong City's identity and widely promote its value as an ecological tourism asset by re-spotlightting surrounding forest resources that had been overshadowed by modern urban landscapes.

"Wonsusan, Jeonwolsan, Goehwasan, Obongsan, Janggunsan, Nogosan, Unjusan, Dongrimsan, Kkoekkori-bong, Bihaksan…."

In every corner of Sejong City's towns, townships, and neighborhoods, attractive mountains abound. Although there are no ultra-high peaks exceeding 300 meters above sea level, many serve as ideal trekking courses offering sweeping views of the city.

The book "Sejong Mountain Trails 16," which captures the hidden charms and historical and cultural values of mountains located throughout Sejong City in a single volume, is drawing attention. Four authors joined forces: Sejong City Hall public officials Lee Eun-su and Lee Kyung-woo, Kim Soon-ja, CEO of Calli Design Research Institute, and Choi Hyung-soon, Sejong Bureau Chief of Chungcheong News.

Co-authored by these four individuals under the subtitle "Walking and Recording the Mountains and Paths of Sejong," the book introduces hiking courses, required times, distances, and nearby attractions for 16 mountains in the Sejong region.

The book holds added significance in that it goes beyond a simple hiking guidebook to broadly illuminate the history, origins of place names, natural environments, and regional cultural assets intertwined with the mountains and paths.

The book consists of 16 chapters. Starting with Goryeosan in the northernmost township of Sojeong-myeon, it sequentially introduces Wonsusan and Jeonwolsan as green shelters in the heart of the city, Geumbyeongsan harmonizing with the Geumgang River, Biam-sa Temple and Geumseongsan carrying the breath of Baekje, Kkoekkori-bong, Nogobong, Dongrimsan, Bihaksan, Obongsan, Unjusan, Wonsusan, Janggunsan, Jeonwolsan, Cheongbyeaksan, and Hwangusan.

Another distinct feature lies in its combination of practical information needed for hiking and humanistic narratives.

By providing hiking course details, times, and distances alongside local legends, cultural heritage, and natural landscapes, the book encourages readers to view mountains not merely as objects to climb, but as spaces accumulated with local history and lives. It is also an undertaking to rediscover the identity of Sejong City—which has grown rapidly since the construction of the administrative city began in 2007—within its nature and history.

It is also noteworthy that the book re-spotlights forest resources and ancient mountain paths in township regions that received relatively little attention, overshadowed by the modern urban landscapes of the new city.

Walking paths and hiking trails connecting diverse natural resources such as the Geumgang and Mihogang rivers hold the potential to develop beyond citizen health and leisure into ecological and stay-type tourism assets.

It is expected to serve as an opportunity for Sejong citizens to discover new stories about familiar neighborhood mountains, and as a guide for outside visitors to experience both the nature and culture of Sejong. Published on July 30 by Eden Book with a length of 206 pages, the book is available at online and offline bookstores.

Attention is focused on whether "Sejong Mountain Trails 16"—which follows mountain paths and records the time accumulated along those trails—will establish itself as a new regional cultural content that promotes Sejong's hidden charms.

In their preface, the co-authors stated, "We walked the mountain paths of Sejong ourselves, recording the nature, history, and stories contained within. We hope this book will make Sejong's hidden charms known to citizens and serve as an opportunity to rediscover the region's mountains and paths as precious cultural and tourism assets."

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]