Punchbowl, the Northernmost Forest Trail in Korea

Walk along trails and enjoy the fascinating sights of the DMZ Punchbowl

The Punchbowl

The Haean-myeon area in Yanggu-gun has a basin-shaped terrain, which has long been called the "Punchbowl" by locals. The nickname was coined by a war correspondent who came with the US Military stationed in the area during the Korean War. 

Sound of the DMZ punchbowl trail
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He looked at the entire topography of the coast and called it a "Punchbowl," inspired by its resemblance to a bowl that holds punch.

Sound of the DMZ punchbowl trail
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There is a must-visit place in the Punchbowl, the Punchbowl Dulle-gil, a 72-km-long trail consisting of four courses: Oyubat-gil, Mandaebeolpan-gil, Pyeonghwauisup-gil, and Meonmetjae-gil.

Sound of the DMZ punchbowl trail
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Punchbowl is a habitat of rare plants such as Hanabusaya asiatica Nakai, Aconitum chiisanense Nakai, Micranthes octopetala (Nakai) Y.I.Kim & Y.D.Kim, Streptopus ovalis (Ohwi) F.T.Wang & Y.C.Tang, Corydalis maculata B.U.Oh & Y.S.Kim, and Trillium camschatcense Ker Gawl.

Sound of the DMZ punchbowl trail
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Endemic plants such as Pseudostellaria setulosa Ohwi and Corydalis grandicalyx B.U.Oh & Y.S.Kim are also living in the Punchbowl.

Sound of the DMZ punchbowl trail
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While walking along the Dulle-gil, a sign that says "Minefield" is easily found, unlike on other trails named the Dulle-gil. Since it is a Dulle-gil built beyond the CCL, there are many unidentified land mines. 

Sound of the DMZ punchbowl trail
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Therefore, this place can only be visited after making an appointment with a guide.

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