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MyKoreanTrip

Korea outdoors

South Korea’s 23 national parks

Seventy per cent of Korea is mountain, and the best of it is protected. 18 of the parks are mountain parks, 4 are marine, and one — Gyeongju — is there for what people built rather than what grew. Together they cover about 6.6% of the country.

Every one is reachable on public transport, most have a temple worth the walk on its own, and entry to all of them is free.

Bukhansan National Park, South Korea

Bukhansan북한산국립공원

Seoul, Gyeonggi

A proper granite mountain inside Seoul, reachable by subway in under an hour.

  • Designated 1983
  • 79.92 km²
  • Baegundae 836.5m
Byeonsanbando National Park, South KoreaMarine park

Byeonsanbando변산반도국립공원

North Jeolla

The only park that pairs mountains with a west-coast shoreline.

  • Designated 1988
  • 155 km²
  • Uisangbong 509m
Chiaksan National Park, South Korea

Chiaksan치악산국립공원

Gangwon

Steep, quiet and hard work — a hiker's mountain near Wonju.

  • Designated 1984
  • 182 km²
  • Birobong 1,288m
Dadohaehaesang National Park, South KoreaMarine park

Dadohaehaesang다도해해상국립공원

South Jeolla

The largest national park in Korea — an archipelago of hundreds of islands.

  • Designated 1981
  • 2,325 km²
Deogyusan National Park, South Korea

Deogyusan덕유산국립공원

North & South Jeolla, South Gyeongsang

A long, gentle ridge at 1,600m — and the easiest big summit in the country.

  • Designated 1975
  • 232 km²
  • Hyangjeokbong 1,614m
Gayasan National Park, South Korea

Gayasan가야산국립공원

South & North Gyeongsang

Haeinsa temple, and the 80,000 woodblocks of the Tripitaka Koreana.

  • Designated 1972
  • 77 km²
  • Sangwangbong 1,430m
Gyeongju National Park, South KoreaHistorical park

Gyeongju경주국립공원

North Gyeongsang

The only historical national park — a thousand years of Silla, spread across a valley.

  • Designated 1968
  • 137 km²
Gyeryongsan National Park, South Korea

Gyeryongsan계룡산국립공원

South Chungcheong, Daejeon

A ridge of jagged peaks and old temples on the edge of Daejeon.

  • Designated 1968
  • 65 km²
  • Cheonhwangbong 845m
Hallasan National Park, South Korea

Hallasan한라산국립공원

Jeju

The highest mountain in South Korea — a shield volcano with a crater lake on top.

  • Designated 1970
  • 153 km²
  • Baengnokdam summit 1,947m
Hallyeohaesang National Park, South KoreaMarine park

Hallyeohaesang한려해상국립공원

South Jeolla, South Gyeongsang

Korea's first marine park, along the south coast from Tongyeong to Yeosu.

  • Designated 1968
  • 545 km²
Jirisan National Park, South Korea

Jirisan지리산국립공원

South & North Jeolla, South Gyeongsang

Korea's first national park, and the highest ground on the mainland.

  • Designated 1967
  • 472 km²
  • Cheonwangbong 1,915m
Juwangsan National Park, South Korea

Juwangsan주왕산국립공원

North Gyeongsang

Rock gorges, waterfalls and the reflecting pond at Jusanji.

  • Designated 1976
  • 107 km²
  • Juwangsan 721m
Mudeungsan National Park, South Korea

Mudeungsan무등산국립공원

Gwangju, South Jeolla

Gwangju's mountain, with columns of volcanic rock along the ridge.

  • Designated 2012
  • 75 km²
  • Cheonwangbong 1,187m
Naejangsan National Park, South Korea

Naejangsan내장산국립공원

South & North Jeolla

The country's most photographed autumn maples, in early November.

  • Designated 1971
  • 81.7 km²
  • Sinseonbong 763m
Odaesan National Park, South Korea

Odaesan오대산국립공원

Gangwon

A thousand-metre fir forest and two of Korea's most important temples.

  • Designated 1975
  • 304 km²
  • Birobong 1,563m
Palgongsan National Park, South Korea

Palgongsan팔공산국립공원

Daegu, North Gyeongsang

Korea's newest national park, and the stone Buddha everyone climbs to.

  • Designated 2023
  • 126 km²
  • Birobong 1,193m
Seoraksan National Park, South Korea

Seoraksan설악산국립공원

Gangwon

Granite spires and the country's most famous autumn colour, near Sokcho.

  • Designated 1970
  • 398 km²
  • Daecheongbong 1,708m
Sobaeksan National Park, South Korea

Sobaeksan소백산국립공원

North Chungcheong, North Gyeongsang

Open grassy ridges at 1,400m, and royal azaleas at the end of May.

  • Designated 1987
  • 322 km²
  • Birobong 1,440m
Songnisan National Park, South Korea

Songnisan속리산국립공원

North Chungcheong, North Gyeongsang

Beopjusa temple and its great bronze Buddha, under a rocky ridge.

  • Designated 1970
  • 274 km²
  • Cheonwangbong 1,058m
Taeanhaean National Park, South KoreaMarine park

Taeanhaean태안해안국립공원

South Chungcheong

Beaches, dunes and mudflats along the west coast.

  • Designated 1978
  • 326 km²
Taebaeksan National Park, South Korea

Taebaeksan태백산국립공원

Gangwon, North Gyeongsang

An ancient ritual peak, and the most reliable snow in the country.

  • Designated 2016
  • 70 km²
  • Janggunbong 1,567m
Wolchulsan National Park, South Korea

Wolchulsan월출산국립공원

South Jeolla

The smallest park, and the most vertical — with a bridge slung between two peaks.

  • Designated 1988
  • 56 km²
  • Cheonhwangbong 809m
Woraksan National Park, South Korea

Woraksan월악산국립공원

North Chungcheong, North Gyeongsang

A rock peak standing over the water of Chungju Lake.

  • Designated 1984
  • 288 km²
  • Yeongbong 1,094m

Want the hikes planned for you?

Every park on this page is free to read about and free to walk. These are for when you want the trail chosen, the route timed and the directions written down to the bus stop.

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Photo credits

Every photograph on this page is openly licensed and has been resized for the web. Thanks to the photographers who made them available.