Korean Hiking Culture: Why Koreans Are the World's Most Passionate Hikers
I went up Bukhansan on a Wednesday morning thinking I'd have the mountain to myself.
There were hundreds of people already ahead of me.
Elderly men in full technical gear, moving faster than I was. Women in their seventies taking selfies on the summit like they'd done it a hundred times before — which, I later found out, many of them had. A group of office workers in matching windbreakers eating kimbap on a flat rock, looking out over Seoul below them like they owned it, which in that moment they kind of did.
Korean hiking culture isn't about escaping people. It's about being with them — the mountain as meeting place, the trail as shared ritual. People greet each other going up. They share food at the top. A stranger handed me a small container of makgeolli at the summit because that's just what you do.
I reached the top breathing hard and sat down next to a man who looked at least eighty. He had a thermos of tea and a very calm expression. He'd been coming up this mountain every Saturday for forty years, he told me, and he planned to keep going.
I believed him completely.
In Korea, Hiking Is Not a Hobby. It's a Way of Life.
On any given weekend morning in Korea, something remarkable happens. Thousands of people — young and old, families and solo hikers, office workers and retirees — lace up their boots and head for the mountains. By 7 AM, trailheads across the country are already buzzing with activity.
Korea has one of the highest rates of hiking participation in the world. An estimated 18 million Koreans — more than a third of the entire population — hike regularly. And with over 4,000 mountains spread across a peninsula roughly the size of Indiana, there is no shortage of places to go.
The Deep Roots of Korean Hiking Culture
To understand why Koreans hike so passionately, you need to understand the geography and history of the Korean peninsula.
Korea is approximately 70 percent mountainous. Mountains are not a distant backdrop — they are woven into the fabric of daily life. From Seoul, you can see Bukhansan National Park rising dramatically behind the northern skyline. From Busan, Geumjeongsan looms over the city. There is almost no major Korean city that does not have a mountain within easy reach.
Historically, mountains held deep spiritual significance in Korean culture. Shamanism — one of Korea's oldest belief systems — treated mountains as sacred spaces inhabited by spirits. Buddhist temples were built high in the mountains, and pilgrimages to these temples became intertwined with mountain hiking over centuries. Even today, reaching a mountain summit feels to many Koreans like something more than just exercise.
The Korean Hiking Aesthetic: Dressed to Impress on the Trail
One of the first things foreign visitors notice about Korean hiking culture is the gear. Korean hikers are extraordinarily well-equipped — and extraordinarily colorful.
Walk up any major Korean mountain on a weekend and you'll encounter a sea of vibrant colors. Neon pink jackets, electric blue pants, bright orange backpacks. Korean hikers take their gear seriously, and the outdoor apparel industry has responded with an enormous market for high-end hiking equipment.
Korea is home to several world-class outdoor gear brands, and international brands like The North Face, Black Yak, and Mammut have flagship stores catering specifically to Korean hiking enthusiasts. It's not unusual for a Korean hiker to spend several hundred dollars on a single jacket — quality gear is considered both functional and a source of pride.
The colorful aesthetic is practical too. Bright clothing makes hikers more visible on trails, particularly important in Korea's dense forests where trails can be narrow and crowded.
The Best Mountains to Hike in Korea
Korea's mountains offer an extraordinary range of experiences, from easy family-friendly walks to demanding technical climbs.
Bukhansan National Park (Seoul) The world's most visited national park per unit area, Bukhansan sits directly behind Seoul's northern skyline. Its granite peaks — Baegundae being the highest at 836 meters — offer dramatic views over the entire city. Multiple trails of varying difficulty are accessible directly from the Seoul Metro. For visitors who want to hike in Korea without leaving the capital, Bukhansan is the obvious choice.
Seoraksan National Park (Gangwon Province) Widely considered Korea's most beautiful national park, Seoraksan is famous for its dramatic rocky peaks, deep valleys, waterfalls, and ancient Buddhist temples. Autumn foliage here is considered among the best in the country. The cable car to Gwongeumseong Fortress provides an accessible route for those who want the views without the full climb.
Hallasan (Jeju Island) The highest mountain in South Korea at 1,950 meters, Hallasan is a dormant volcano that dominates the landscape of Jeju Island. Reaching the summit requires a full day hike and reservations are required due to strict visitor limits. The views from the top, looking out over the entire island and the surrounding ocean, are unlike anything else in Korea.
Jirisan National Park (South Gyeongsang/Jeolla) Korea's first designated national park and its largest mainland mountain, Jirisan spans three provinces and offers multi-day ridge hiking routes that rival anything in East Asia. Serious hikers come here for the challenge and the solitude.
Naejangsan National Park (North Jeolla Province) Not the most challenging hike, but arguably the most beautiful in autumn. Naejangsan is famous for its tunnel of maple trees that turns a brilliant red and orange in October, drawing visitors from across the country.
Mountain Culture: What Happens on the Trail
Hiking in Korea is as much a social experience as it is a physical one. The trail culture is warm, communal, and occasionally surprising for foreign visitors.
Greetings on the Trail It is standard practice in Korea to greet fellow hikers on the trail, even complete strangers. A simple "안녕하세요" (hello) or "수고하세요" (keep up the good work) exchanged between passing hikers is universal. This culture of acknowledgment creates a sense of community that makes Korean hiking feel distinctly different from hiking in many Western countries.
Mountain Food Culture Perhaps the most beloved aspect of Korean hiking culture is the food waiting at the top. Many Korean mountains have small restaurants or snack vendors at or near the summit, serving hot food to hungry hikers. The most iconic summit food is doenjang jjigae (fermented soybean paste stew) or a simple cup of ramen — humble foods that taste extraordinary after a long climb.
Many hikers also bring their own food to share on the trail. It is not uncommon for a stranger to offer you a slice of fruit, a handful of nuts, or a small cup of makgeolli (traditional rice wine) on the trail. Accepting is considered polite and part of the experience.
The Summit Certification Culture Many Korean mountains have stamp stations at the summit where hikers can collect a stamp in a dedicated hiking passport. This certification culture drives many Koreans to systematically climb all 100 famous mountains of Korea — a challenge known as the Baekdudaegan trail system.
Tips for Hiking in Korea as a Foreign Visitor
Navigation Most major Korean mountains have well-marked trails with signage in Korean and English. The Naver Maps app provides detailed hiking trail maps and estimated climbing times. The Tranggle app is popular among serious Korean hikers and offers GPS trail tracking.
What to Wear While you don't need to invest in full Korean hiking gear, proper footwear is essential. Trails can be rocky and steep, and running shoes are not sufficient for most mountains. A light waterproof jacket is recommended as mountain weather can change quickly.
Trail Etiquette Greet fellow hikers. Yield to descending hikers on narrow paths. Do not play music out loud — use earphones. Take all trash with you. These simple courtesies are universally expected on Korean trails.
Timing Start early. Korean trails get busy quickly on weekends, and popular peaks can have significant queues at summit approaches by mid-morning. An early start also gives you the best light for photography and the best chance of clear skies.
A stranger at the top of Bukhansan handed me a small cup of makgeolli without asking — just poured, handed, nodded. I've done the same for someone else on every hike since.
Entry fee: Most national park trails 1,000–3,000 KRW. Bukhansan in Seoul is free. Recommended trails for beginners: Bukhansan Dulle-gil (walking trail, no climbing), Namsan in central Seoul, Hallasan on Jeju (half-day hike). Pro tip: Koreans take trail snacks seriously — kimbap, hard-boiled eggs, and makgeolli at the summit are tradition. Pack light but bring water. Trailhead convenience stores stock everything you need.
Which Korean mountain or trail is on your list? Tell me below — and if you've already been, tell me what you ate at the top.
Tags: Korean hiking, hiking in Korea, Korean mountains, Bukhansan, Seoraksan, Korea travel, outdoor activities Korea
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