A Maze Made of Tree Hedges — GYULI Visited Gimnyeong Maze Park in Gujwa-eup
said to form a maze park
When planning a trip around Gujwa-eup in Jeju, there's another place whose name often comes up alongside Manjanggul Cave. It's Gimnyeong Maze Park, said to be located not far from Manjanggul Cave. As the name suggests, it's known as a themed park where a maze has been made out of tree hedges. It's said to be talked about not just as an ordinary maze, but as one known even internationally, and it's said to have been carefully built with quite a bit of effort. Since it's an experience space you move through with your own body, it's said to be enjoyable in a slightly different way for adults, not just kids. Today, GYULI wants to carefully put together what I've heard about Gimnyeong Maze Park and share it with you.
A Maze Built Out of Densely Planted Tree Hedges
As its name suggests, Gimnyeong Maze Park is said to be a park where trees are planted densely to form hedges, with paths winding between them to create a maze. The tree hedges, said to stand well above adult height, reportedly stretch out in every direction, making it hard to judge which way is which once you're inside. Many mention losing track of time while wandering, trying to find their way. Benches are also said to be tucked here and there inside the maze, letting visitors catch their breath and try again whenever they feel worn out from wandering.
Exactly how large the maze is, how many paths it has, or how long it takes to get through can vary from person to person and by period, so I'd rather not state that definitively here. There's said to be small markers or signs tucked between the hedges here and there, though many reviews say even those seem placed on purpose to add to the confusion, leaving visitors unsure whether a sign was meant to help or just to trip them up further, which makes for a good laugh. Still, it's consistently described across reviews that walking through the maze itself feels like a kind of game, beyond simply finding your way out.
I often hear people say that the confusing fun of thinking you've passed this way before, only to hit another dead end, keeps making them laugh.
— 🍊 GYULI
Said to Be a Themed Maze Park Known Even Internationally
One reason Gimnyeong Maze Park comes up so often is said to be that it's talked about as a themed maze park known even internationally. The exact ranking, records, or official evaluations behind that would need to be verified, so I'd rather not go into specifics here, but it's said that word of a carefully built maze here has been passed around for a long time.
It's also said that partway through the maze there are viewing platforms where you can climb up and look down over the whole layout at once. Seeing the full picture from above, something invisible while you're wandering at ground level trying to find your way, is said to be one of the moments that leaves a strong impression on many visitors. Many reviews mention the small satisfaction of looking down at the path you struggled through and realizing, a little too late, exactly where you should have turned.
A Good Spot to Pair With Manjanggul Cave
Gimnyeong Maze Park is said to be located not far from Manjanggul Cave, introduced in an earlier story, so many travelers reportedly visit both places together. It could work well to first take in the cool, mysterious atmosphere of Manjanggul Cave, then move on to the maze park to enjoy the fun of moving your body while walking between the tree hedges.
It's said that not just families, but also friends or couples often enjoy it like a race to see who finds the exit first. There's also said to be a rest area near the exit once you've made your way out, so if you're planning to visit Manjanggul Cave and the maze park together, it could be worth building in a relaxed break between the two. The exact time it takes to get through or how it's best enjoyed can vary by circumstance, so please take this as general reference and check details before your visit. Some sections are said to offer little shade in summer, so bringing a hat and some water along can make the maze easier to enjoy.
GYULI's Tip · Admission fees, operating hours, and the detailed layout inside the maze are all said to change depending on the period, so it's a good idea to check the latest information before you visit.
The fun of finding your way through tree hedges, in a space said to be carefully built enough to be known even internationally, sounds well worth a stop on a trip around Gujwa-eup. GYULI thinks that taking in the mysterious scenery of Manjanggul Cave and then enjoying the fun of maze-finding while moving your body at Gimnyeong Maze Park is exactly why this place is counted among the go-to outings in Gujwa-eup. Comparing notes with friends or family afterward about which path each of you took to escape is said to be one of the small joys of the experience. If you're planning a trip around Gujwa-eup, why not slip Gimnyeong Maze Park into your itinerary too?