The distribution of slash and burn farmers’ settlements and neosaejips in Inner Seorak

In this article, the research area is the valley section of Baekdamsa(백담사)~Yeongsiam(영시암) including the branch valleys of Gilgol(노동), Gomgol백담리, and Yeongsidong(영시동), and Neolhyeobigol광협동 located in the northern part of Inner Seorak內雪嶽. This area belongs to Yongdaeri, Bungmyeon, Injegun, Gangwondo. I investigated the historical distribution of neosaejip(너새집) by various records of three periods; Joseon dynasty, Japanese occupation, and post Korean war. All the materials such as Sansuyuki(산수유기), historical records, and regional geography books of Chosun; topographic maps of Japanese occupation with related documents and photos; modern topographic maps and documentary photos of post Korean war gave me essential basis. Research result is that there were at most fifty neosaejips from Baekdamsa region to Yeongsiam, including the Garyeokchon(갈역촌), Oegapyeong(외가평) where used to be a horse relay of Joseon. On the line of 12 kilometers’ main path through Baekdam and Suryeomdong(수렴동) valley, there were such temples as Baekdamsa, Chukseongam(축성암), Yeongsiam, Wonmyeongam(원명암) and Oseam(오세암). Various size of neosaejips were located with small arable land originated from slash and burn field along this main line including two branch valleys(Gilgol and Gomgol) and Neolhyeobigol placing in the middle of Jeohangnyeong(저항령) path. Till the early 1970s after Korean war, about 10 neosaejips remained but all of them were demolished by government policy, the readjustment project of slash and burn field. In the last year of the project, 1979, the last remaining neosaejip in Inner Sorak was disappeared by forced removal of Injegun. Now in bush and woods, there can be found only some indistinct sites of neosaejip with crashed stone wall. Since the designation of Seoraksan as the fifth national park of Korea, 1970, there has been some remarkable accomplishments in the field of environmental conservation. But the three hundred-year long human landscape and cultural assets were erased totally, such as neosaejip and slash and burn field in the area of Inner Seorak, Yongdaeri, Bungmyeon, Injegun. Based on this research, related government departments involved, Inje-gun and the Korea National Park Service, I urge the active restoration project of neosaejip as a kind of cultural heritage. The result of such project will be contribute to the economic development of Injegun as well as promoting lots of tourists’ understanding about human environment of Seorkasan national park.