Inwangsan Forest Retreat

I decided to visit the Inwangsan Forest Retreat(Soopsok Shimteo in Korean) for my 'The frame' series. Even as an MBTI 'J', I somehow found it incredibly tedious to go out purely for the sake of a goal. The plan was simple: finish my swim, stop by home for a quick meal, grab a coffee, and head out. But a call from my dad threw my entire schedule off.

The conversation wasn't exactly pleasant. It was a situation where even the smallest desire felt like a luxury—a moment where I desperately wanted to hold on, but had no choice but to let go. A wave of bitterness and disappointment washed over me instantly. The life I had enjoyed up until now suddenly felt like nothing more than a sweet dream. It felt as if reality was finally shaking me awake, urging me to snap out of it and face what was ahead. With that stinging ache in my heart, I began to hike up the mountain.

You need quite a bit of energy to reach the Inwangsan Forest Retreat, sitting elegantly deep in the mountains. There are several routes, but I chose the one that connects straight from behind my house. It's a trail that gets your heart pounding with a steep incline right from the start. Just as I’d catch my breath in the crisp breeze, stepping under the blazing sun would instantly drench me in sweat. But with that sweat, I let go of my fleeting worries. Once you reach Gicha Bawi (Train Rock), a cool breeze blows in to dry it all away. Having a specific destination in mind, I casually skipped the peak and headed down the opposite path.

I finally came face-to-face with the Forest Retreat. They truly named it perfectly, without any unnecessary fluff. It is exactly that: a retreat surrounded by lush green trees. With massive floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides, you can see leaves fluttering in the wind no matter where you look. There are comfortable sofas facing the forest, a long communal table, and rows of books. The furniture, made of light-colored wood, gives the space a refreshing vibe. I pulled out a book that caught my eye, occasionally pausing to just stare out the window at the rippling sunlight. There are other people in the space, but the only sounds you hear are the hum of the fans and the turning of pages.

Wait, I definitely came up here with something on my mind... What was it again?

Maybe it's the scattered light, but it feels like I've stepped into a dream. The kind of afternoon you never want to wake up from, one that feels like it could last forever—but then it hits me. The only reason I get to enjoy this view is because of the path I took to get here. The steep hills I sweated through, and the cool breeze that finally found me. It's precisely because I pushed through that climb that this exact moment tastes so incredibly sweet.

(The End.)