Out of the several hundred mountains in South Korea, three highest stand out -- Seoraksan (Mt. Seorak), Jirisan (Mt. Jiri), and Hallasan (Mt. Halla). Of course, it is good to climb them in warm seasons. But they will also greet you with a breathtaking snowscape in cold winter. Despite the slippery frozen paths, climbers and hikers still find rewarding and exciting adventures if they manage to reach the peaks they have aimed at.
Some hikers are keen to stay overnight at chalets near the peaks on New Year's Eve or climb the mountains in the wee hours to watch the first sunrise of the New Year on the mountaintops on New Year's Day. When the first sun of the New Year rises up over the horizon, many of them either pray for their family's health and happiness or just stand there speechless.
The higher you go up the mountain, the more rewarded you will feel. You can flee the worldly cares and concerns even for a few hours or days. It will be more rewarding to climb mountains in winter, given the hardship you have to undergo by walking on snow-covered, or sometimes frozen mountain trails or slippery rocks.
On the mountain paths, everything or everyone is friendly to you, or to be more exact, you will feel friendly toward them. Mountains are such places where nature and people become one. Especially in winter, after an arduous climb, you will find that every climber or hiker on the mountaintop has experienced the same hardships as you have, and all of you will feel at one with nature.
Now in the height of winter, why don't you plan to climb one of the peaks of the tallest mountains in Korea? Korea's snowcapped mountains are extremely beautiful beyond comparison, and the snowscape created by snowflakes, and snowcapped bare trees and rocks will surely enchant you and remain vivid in your memory for a long time to come.
Here are some tips on the three most famous mountains in Korea.
Seoraksan National Park
Seoraksan National Park is indisputably the most popular tourist attraction in Korea, attracting about three million visitors every year. It is a uniquely valuable haven of flora and fauna located on 398.539 sq. km of land, and boasting magnificent natural views.
Daecheongbong, the highest peak on Seoraksan, stands 1,707.9m above sea level. It is surrounded by several high peaks in every direction. Seoraksan has many valleys and mountain ranges, each of which has its own legend and beauty. It also has several famous mountain passes, such as Hangyeryeong, Madeungryeong, and Misiryeong, which connect the western part of Gangwon-do (Gangwon Province) with its eastern part.
Many kinds of deciduous broadleaf and evergreen needleleaf trees make a thick forest, blanketing ranges and peaks and making the entire view exotic. In winter, the deciduous trees stand with bare branches and evergreen trees cut a fine figure in the desolate, but magnificent snowscape.
The entire Seoraksan park is a habitat of rare natural resources. It was designated by UNESCO as a biopreservation area in 1982, a first for Korea. It was also listed as IUCN Category II (National Park) by the World Conservation Union/International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) in 2005.
There are three kinds of hiking or climbing courses for this mountain -- one-day courses (Namgyori, Suryeomdong, Yangpok, and Osaek routes), two-day courses (Gongryong Ridge and Hangyeryeong routes), and a three-day course (Daecheongbong route).
☆How to Get There:
Yeongdong Expressway ⇒ in the direction of Sokcho ⇒ Hyeonnam Interchange ⇒ National Road No. 7 ⇒ Haemaji (Sunrise) Park ⇒ turn left ⇒ Seoraksan National Park
For more information, call 033-636-7700,
Jirisan National Park
Jirisan National Park was listed as Korea's first national park in 1967. It encompasses three provinces -- Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang Province), Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla Province), and Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla Province). This mountain national park, measuring 471.758 sq. km, is the largest among Korea's 20 national parks.
According to legends, many hermits stayed in this mountain to seek enlightenment. Alongside Geumgangsan (Mt. Geumgang) in North Korea and Hallasan, Jirisan has been regarded as a sacred mountain from time immemorial. Cheonwangbong, its highest peak, stands 1,915m above sea level. Many of the mountain's peaks have names that are reminiscent of Buddhism or Taoism such as Banyabong (1,732m) and Nogodan (1,507m).
It has about 20 high peaks that stand more than 1,500m above sea level, and many famous and as yet-unnamed valleys. The mountain area is so vast that people in different provinces regard the mountain as their own and the variety and cornucopia of flora and fauna foster spheres of heterogeneous and diverse culture. Many people agree it is nearly impossible to make a clear-cut definition of this mountain because of such variety, diversity and vastness it has.
There are three kinds of hiking or climbing courses for this mountain -- one-day courses (Manbokdae, Banyabong, Baekmudong, Baemsagol Valley, Samsinbong, Jeongryeongchi-Baraebong, Jungsanri (Jangteomok), Jungsanri (Kalbawi), Piagol, and Hwaeom Valley routes), two-day courses (Georim and Yupyeong routes), and a walking course along mountain ridges.
☆How to Get There:
There are several routes to Jirisan National Park. But the easiest access to the area is as follows:
88 Expressway ⇒ Hamyang Interchange or Jirisan Interchange
For more information call 055-972-7771/2 (Jirisan National Park Office in Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do), 061-783-9101 (Jirisan National Park's Nambu (southern regional) Office in Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do), or 063-625-8911 (Jirisan National Park Bukbu (northern regional) Office in Namwon, Jeollabuk-do), or click http://jiri.knps.or.kr/ (Korean).
Hallasan National Park
Hallasan, measuring about 133 sq. km, rose from the middle of the sea some 1.2 million years ago. With such a history, the mountain carries many legends about itself. The name Halla means a high mountain that could draw a galaxy. The mountain that stands 1,950m above sea level is the highest mountain in entire South Korea.
The name Baeknokdam (white deer pond), a crater lake on its top, came from the legend that mountain hermits used to drink wine made from the meat of white deer. The eastern cliff of the lake is made of basalt and its steep western cliff is a pillar-shaped joint
The mountain was designated as a national park in 1970. It was listed as a biopreservation area by UNESCO in 2002, and designated again in 2007 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a first for Korea. An annual snowflake festival is held in the Eorimok area in the mountain during the last week of January.
There are four climbing courses: Eorimok route, Yeongsil route, Seongpanak route, and Gwaneumsa route.
☆How to Get There:
There are several routes to Hallasan National Park. But the easiest access to the area follows:
National Road No. 99 ⇒ in the direction of Jungmun ⇒ Eorimok Parking Lot ⇒ entrance to Yeongsil ⇒ Yeongsil Parking Lot ⇒ Hallasan National Park
