Stone Towers, Built by a Mother’s Love

Mojeongtap Trail in Nochusan Mountain

• On the slope of Nochusan Mountain, in Daegi-ri, Wangsan-myeon, Gangneung-si, you will find a magnificent view of 3,000 stone towers.
  Mrs. Cha Ok-soon dedicated 25 years to building those stone towers by herself, wishing for her household’s peace.
  People began talking about this special place and called it “Mojeongtap Trail in Nochusan Mountain,” which became a popular tourist destination.





• Mojeongtap Trail in Nochusan Mountain stretches for about 1.2 km.
  From the trail’s entrance, you will find many stone towers built by residents of Daegi-ri, a nearby village.
  There are also many small stone towers built by visitors.
  The stone towers of Mrs. Cha Ok-soon can be reached by climbing up the thick forest trail along the valley.
  It is a great trekking path for a leisurely walk through a forest.



• Walk about 30 minutes along the forest trail and find 3,000 magnificent stone towers next to the valley, hand-built by Mrs. Cha Ok-soon.
  What is more astonishing is that these rocks are sourced from the valley.



3,000 stone towers built by Mrs. Cha Ok-soon for 25 years
• Stone towers are ritualistic symbols of warding bad fortunes or diseases from entering the village and inviting good fortunes.
  Mrs. Cha Ok-soon lost two sons and had her husband struck down by an illness, constantly experiencing bad fortunes in her household.
  One day, while she was drowning in sorrow, she dreamed that a mountain god had appeared and said
  that her household would finally enjoy peace once she built 3,000 stone towers.
  Later, Mrs. Cha began to build stone towers in 1986 on the slopes of Nochusan Mountain.
  Until she passed away in 2011 at the age of 66, she spent 25 years building 3,000 stone towers.
  You can also find a small hut where Mrs. Cha lived while building stone towers.
  



• Stone towers she built seem to say the prayers that all mothers in the world whisper.
  Put a small pebble on it with a wish of your own.



• Mojeongtap Trail in Nochusan Mountain is a popular outing destination
  and was ranked the 6th of the “Great Forest Trails” in 2023 by the Korea Forest Service.
  Walk the special forest trail where stone towers built with a mother’s deep love for her family line up the valley of Nochusan Mountain.
  In autumn leaves, stone towers look even more beautiful.



Mojeongtap Trail in Nochusan Mountain in Autumn

Mojeongtap Trail in Nochusan Mountain : 1687-1, Daegi-ri, Wangsan-myeon, Gangneung-si