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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
  • 80 km²
  • Baegundae 837m
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 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

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.