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Welcome to Korea Peak

If you’re new here, this is the place to start. Korea Peak is an English-language hiking blog covering everything you need to explore Korean mountains — from beginner-friendly trails near Seoul to the BAC 100 peak challenge run by outdoor brand Blackyak.

Whether you just landed in Korea or you’ve been here for years and want to finally get on the trails, these guides will help you get started.

🏔️ First Time Hiking in Korea?

Korea has some of the most accessible and rewarding hiking in Asia. Trails are well-marked, mountains are reachable by subway and bus, and even beginners can summit peaks with stunning views in a single morning.

  • Most trails are free — national parks charge a small entry fee, but many mountains cost nothing
  • Well-marked paths — Korean trails use color-coded ribbons, distance markers, and frequent signage in Korean (and sometimes English)
  • Naver Map works well for trails — it shows hiking routes, estimated times, and trailhead locations
  • Gear shops everywhere — Korea has an enormous outdoor gear culture; you can buy or rent almost anything near major trailheads

🗺️ Where to Start

If you’re in Seoul

Seoul is surrounded by mountains, and several are reachable directly by subway. Bukhansan National Park is the most popular — it sits inside the city and offers trails for every level, from easy ridge walks to the rocky Baegundae summit (836m). Dobongsan and Gwanaksan are also excellent options for a full day out.

If you want a bigger challenge — the BAC 100

The most famous hiking challenge in Korea is the BAC 100, run by Korean outdoor brand Blackyak (Blackyak Alpine Club). It’s a certified peak-bagging program where you summit 100 designated mountains across Korea and verify each one using the official BAC smartphone app (GPS check-in + photo at the summit marker). The list overlaps significantly with the Korea Forest Service’s official 100 Famous Mountains, but the two lists are not identical. Completing all 100 is considered the ultimate achievement in Korean hiking culture.

If you only have one day

Start with Bukhansan (Baegundae peak) or Gwanaksan — both are under 2 hours from central Seoul by public transport and offer spectacular ridge views with a solid 4–6 hour round trip.

📱 Apps You’ll Actually Need

  • Naver Map — essential for navigation in Korea. Shows hiking trails, trailhead locations, distances, and estimated times. Switch to English in settings.
  • KakaoMap — solid alternative with good trail coverage
  • Blackyak BAC App — required if you’re doing the BAC 100 challenge. GPS verification + photo authentication for each summit
  • Korea National Park Service app (국립공원) — useful for checking trail conditions, closures, and making required reservations for peak-season hikes

🥾 Gear Basics

You don’t need expensive gear to start hiking in Korea, but a few things make a big difference:

  • Hiking shoes or trail runners — most Korean mountain trails are rocky granite; flat-soled sneakers slip badly on wet rock
  • Trekking poles — extremely common in Korea, especially helpful on steep descents. Available cheaply at any outdoor shop
  • Layers — even in summer, ridgelines above 700–800m can be cold and windy. Mountains like Hallasan (1,950m) require proper layering year-round
  • Water + snacks — GS25 and CU convenience stores near most trailheads stock everything you need
  • Small backpack (20–30L) — enough for water, food, and a rain layer on day hikes

📋 Start Exploring

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My English isn’t the best — if anything sounds off or unnatural, feel free to let me know in the comments below. I’ll also do my best to respond to any questions you leave there as quickly as possible.