The HIGHEST MOUNTAIN PEAKS in South Korea

Of the top 25 highest accessible peaks in South Korea, 21 of them can be found in only 4 parks--Jirisan, Seoraksan, Deogyusan, and Taebaeksan. Fourteen of these are in Jirisan alone, attesting to the park's merits as a destination for serious hikers. Though South Korea's mountains are moderate in size (the highest is just under 2,000 meters) and obviously can't be compared to ranges like the Sierra Nevadas and the Rockies where there are scores of peaks over 4,000 m, they are certainly worth exploring. They also tend to be fairly steep climbs (switchbacks are uncommon) with trails starting not far above sea-level. Hiking in mid-winter can add an extra challenge to a climb, as Korea's winters are extremely harsh. Below is a list of the 25 highest peaks. Beneath about 1,450 meters, it gets difficult to rank peaks because there are just so many of them spread across the peninsula.

1 Hallasan, Jeju-do 1,950 m
2 Cheonhwangbong, Jirisan 1,915 m
3 Jungbong, Jirisan 1,875 m
4 Jeseokbong, Jirisan 1,806 m
5 Habong*, Jirisan 1,781 m
6 Banyabong, Jirisan 1,734 m
7 Daecheongbong, Seoraksan 1,708 m
8 Chotdaebong, Jirisan 1,704 m
9 Yeonghabong, Jirisan 1,667 m
10 Yeongshinbong, Jirisan 1,652 m
11 Sseoribong, Jirisan 1,642 m
12 Hyangjeokbong, Deogyusan 1,614 m
13 Jungbong, Deogyusan 1,594 m
14 Myeongsongbong, Jirisan 1,586 m
15 Taebaeksan, Taebaeksan 1,567 m
16 Birobong, Odaesan 1,563 m
17 Munsubong, Taebaeksan 1,547 m
18 Tokkibong, Jirisan 1,534 m
19 Deokpyeongbong, Jirisan 1,522 m
20 Nam Deogyusan, Deogyusan 1,507 m
21 Nogodan, Jirisan 1,507 m
22 Muryongsan, Deogyusan 1,492 m
23 Samgakbong, Jirisan 1,462 m
24 Bangtaesan 1,444 m
25 Birobong, Sobaeksan 1,439 m

*There is no official trail to this peak.

POPULAR LESSER PEAKS

Manbokdae, Gurye-gun 1,437 m
Dongdaesan, Odaesan 1,433 m
Chilbulbong, Gayasan 1,433 m
Sangwangbong, Gayasan 1,430 m
Ansan, Seoraksan 1,430 m
Durobong, Odaesan 1,422 m
Yeonhwabong, Sobaeksan 1,394 m
Naesamshinbong, Jirisan 1,354 m
Noinbong, Odaesan 1,338 m
Chilbong, Deogyusan 1,305 m
Birobang, Chiaksan 1,288 m
Soetongbawi, Jirisan 1,264 m
Gajisan, Gajisan 1,240 m
Daeseungnyeong, Seoraksan 1,210 m
Shinbulsan, Yeongnam Alps 1,208 m
Palgongsan, Palgongsan 1,199 m
Unmunsan, Gajisan 1,189 m
Sajabong/Jaeyaksan, Yeongnam Alps 1,189 m
Namdaebong, Chiaksan 1,182 m
Dongbong, Palgongsan 1,155 m
Yeombulbong, Palgongsan 1,121 m
Sangunsan, Gajisan 1,114 m
Sumibong, Yeongnam Alps 1,108 m
Woraksan, Woraksan 1,093 m
Cheonjibong, Chiaksan 1,086 m
Ganweolsan, Yeongnam Alps 1,083 m
Chwiseosan, Yeongnam Alps 1,059 m
Cheonhwangbong, Songnisan 1,057 m
Hyangnobong, Chiaksan 1,043 m
Munjangdae, Songnisan 1,033 m
Birobong, Songnisan 1,032 m
Munsubong, Songnisan 1,031 m
Pagyebong, Palgongsan 991 m
Nuengdongsan, Yeongnam Alps 982 m
Eoksan, Gajisan 994 m
Kogeoribong, Yeongnam Alps 889 m
Nojeokbong, Palgongsan 887 m
Baekunsan, Gajisan 885 m
Gwanbong, Palgongsan 850 m
Baekundae, Bukhansan 836 m
Gwaneumbong, Gyeryongsan 816 m
Geumeungwangi, Juwangsan 812 m
Mangyeongdae, Bukhansan 799 m
Sambulbong, Gyeryongsan 775 m
Sinseonbong, Naejangsan 763 m
Tohamsan, Gyeongju 745 m
Dobongsan, Bukhansan 740 m
Yeoncheonbong, Gyeryongsan 738 m
Juwangsan, Juwangsan 721 m
Gachibong, Naejangsan 717 m
Nojeokbong, Bukhansan 716 m
Yeonjibong, Naejangsan 670 m
Manghaebong, Naejangsan 650 m
Seoraebong, Naejangsan 622 m
Palibong, Geumjangsan 616 m
Bulchulbong, Naejangsan 610 m
Namsan, Gyeongju 494 m