Forest of Common Camellias in Maryang-ri, Seocheon

The common camellia belongs to the tea family and is found in warm regions of Korea, Japan and China; in Korea it grows on southern coasts and islands. Its flowers, which open in early spring, are considered very beautiful, and depending on the season of flowering the tree is called spring camellia, autumn camellia, or winter camellia. The camellia forest of Maryang-ri lies on a low coastal hill about 4.5 km from Seodo Elementary School. A little further up the hill stands a modest pavilion called Dongbaekjeong ("Winter Camellia Pavilion"), around which 82 wild camellia trees grow scattered. Buffeted by strong winds, the trees tend to be short; those reaching 2–3 m in height have trunks that divide into two or three stems close to the ground, with well-developed side branches giving the trees a rounded form. The forest is said to have been planted as a windbreak for a village 500 m away, though this function is now hard to discern. According to legend, about 300 years ago a local official dreamed of a bouquet of flowers floating on the sea; going down to the shore he found the flowers there in reality, brought them back and planted them, and it is said that these plantings grew into the forest seen today. Afterwards, people are said to have gathered here every year in the first lunar month to hold a rite praying for a catch free of disaster. The camellia forest of Maryang-ri, Seocheon is one of the few such forests in Korea, and at the time of its designation stood at the northern limit of the species' range, giving it high value for the study of plant distribution; as a forest carrying both a fishing rite and a legend, it also holds high cultural value. It is accordingly designated and protected as a natural monument.

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Where it is

Region

Seocheon, Chungnam

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물