Golbaemasil Trail is one of the five courses for pilgrimage to traces of St. Andrew Kim Taegon. It connects the Golbaemasil Shrine, where St. Kim spent his childhood, and the Euni Sanctuary, where St. Andrew Kim Taegon was baptized by Priest Maubant. Following the traces of young St. Kim who crossed the steep mountain trail for his dream would give you comfort and consolation.

Golbaemasil Trail is a road for pilgrimage from Euni Sanctuary through Sindeok Pass and the top of Chilbongsan Mountain (446.9 m above sea level) to Golbaemasil Shrine. The road goes through villages, forest trails with a valley, and steep mountain paths. The journey will not be so much difficult, and it will provide not that much stunning landscapes. Still, people take this journey because they want to feel the traces of St. Andrew Kim Taegon, the first Korean priest who walked down the road over 200 years ago. Or, they may want to be consoled by following the trail. As a matter of fact, this year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of St. Andrew Kim Taegon. St. Andrew Kim Taegon (1821–1846) is also a universal patron recognized by UNESCO in 2021.

You can start the journey on Golbaemasil Trail from either Euni Sanctuary or Golbaemasil Shrine, but it would be more convenient to depart from Euni Sanctuary as it has convenient facilities such as a parking lot and restroom.The parking lot is free to use and open to the visitors and pilgrims from 9 AM to 5 PM. Before following the walking trail, you’d better write your name in the visitor’s log at the office of Euni Sanctuary and get the combination to the lock of the entrance of Golbaemasil Shrine. Because the entry of the public to Golbaemasil Shrine is usually restricted for the reason of its management.

Euni Sanctuary, where Golbaemasil Trail begins, is the place St. Andrew Kim Taegon was baptized and partook his first communion. Selected as a seminary student at the age of 15, St. Andrew Kim Taegon studied theology in Macau and was ordained a priest in 1845 at Jinjiaxiang Catholic Church in Shanghai. Euni Sanctuary, which was the center of his pastoral activities, is also the place where he held the last mass before he was martyred. In Euni Sanctuary are the reconstructed building of Jinjiaxiang Catholic Church from Shanghai, which was demolished in 2001, and Kim Taegon Memorial Hall, where handwritten letters of St. Andrew Kim Taegon are exhibited. When you visit Euni Sanctuary, you should observe manners so as not to interfere with the lives of the clergy living here. Jinjiaxiang Catholic Church and Kim Taegon Memorial Hall are currently temporarily closed.

When you come out from Euni Sanctuary, you can begin the walking along Golbaemasil Trail. A friendly village road will greet you. The narrow village road will be cozy and comfortable, evoking nostalgia. Like the road you walked holding your grandma’s hand during the childhood, the winding village road will feel familiar. You will be glad to see the small flowers sprouting from the foot of the fences, the swallow flying as low as it might touch the ground, and the mongrel that follows you with his tail wagging from the entrance of the village.

After passing the Eunigol Family Camping Site, which is located at the end of the village road, you will see the green forest road.It is a section where you can enjoy a cool walk under the shade of thick trees and seeing a lovely valley.The small valley is good for taking a break with your feet dipped inside the water.It is a gentle uphill climb from Eunigol Family Camping Site to Sindeok Pass, but there are resting areas here and there, so you can continue walking at a leisurely pace. The valley that accompanies your walking is also attractive.

At Sindeok Pass, the road divides into three directions. To get to Golbaemasil Shrine, you have to take the road to the left. The road to the straight leads to Mirinai Sanctuary and the road to the right leads to Eunisan Mountain (363.3 m above sea level). The road sign you can see at the fork of the road would be a thankful guide for your first trip to this place.

From Sindeok Pass to the top of Chilbongsan Mountain, you have to climb a fairly steep trail. This section, which runs for about 400 meters, is the most difficult course in the Golbaemasil Trail. When you reach the top of Chilbongsan Mountain, you are now halfway your destination. The rest of the section is a short downhill and forest trail, which make it easier for you to follow. After walk under the scattered shades of trees in front of the US military base from the starting point of forest road, you will soon find Golbaemasil Shrine.

Golbaemasil Shrine is where St. Andrew Kim Taegon, who was born in Solmoe, Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, took refuge with his family to escape persecution. It has a statue of him and a landmark stone that marks it is the birthplace of St. Andrew Kim Taegon. St. Andrew Kim Taegon, who went into Golbaemasil at the young age of 7, lived there for about eight years until he left for Macau to study. After reaching Golbaemasil Shrine, you may return to Euni Sanctuary if you left your car there. Call a taxi (Yongin Seongsan Call Taxi +82-31-335-1100, Yangji Call Taxi +82-31-338-8282) in that case. If you are using public transportation and need to go to Yongin Public Bus Terminal, take the bus 10 or 11 at the stop in front of the main gate of Yangji Resort.
Info.

“Young St. Andrew Kim Taegon Trail” Stamp Tour

It is a stamp tour program centering around the “Road of Yough St. Andrew Kim Taegon” that connects Euni Sanctuary and Mirinai Sanctuary, including the five courses of Walking Pilgrimage Following St. Andrew Kim Taegon. If you get stamps at all five designated places, such as Euni Sanctuary, Golbaemasil Shrine, Gochogol Chapel, Mirinai Sanctuary and Songol Holy Land, and go to the House of Commentator (a place for travel and stay) on the left of Yongin City Hall, you can receive a small souvenir. Visiting the places to get stamps is available on foot or by car. If you want to participate in the stamp tour program, use the stamp book provided at one of the designated places or the Yongin tourism mobile app ‘Kkongalmon.’

• - Location: Euni Sanctuary, Golbaemasil Shrine, Gochogol Chapel, Mirinai Sanctuary, Songol Holy Land
• - Contact: +82-31-1577-1122
• - Application: Visit one of the designated places for stamps
• - Open: Until December 31, 2025
• - Participation: Free
• - Website: https://blog.naver.com/touryongin