K Hiking Draws Global Travelers to Korea's Mountains and City Trails

885,282 foreign visits put Korea's parks on travel itineraries

South Korea's national parks recorded 885,282 foreign visits in 2024, more than five times the 2022 figure, according to the Korea National Park Service (KNPS). Another 582,077 foreign visits were recorded through September 2025, with park staff expecting the total to rise as later visits are counted.

As of October 31, 2025, the appeal reaches beyond mountain scenery. Free national park admission, maintained trails and easy access from cities are helping turn K hiking into a regular part of international visitors' trips. In Seoul, travelers can leave a subway station and reach a forested ridge within minutes, then return downtown for lunch or dinner.

Gyeongju National Park attracts the most foreign visitors, followed by Seoraksan, Hallasan, Bukhansan and Hallyeohaesang. Their attractions vary, from temples and historic streets to volcanic terrain, granite peaks and coastal walks. Together, they give visitors several ways to combine outdoor activity with sightseeing.

Photos and short videos carry that appeal abroad. Seoraksan's crimson autumn foliage, sunrise views from Bukhansan's granite domes and cultural stops around Gyeongju circulate on social platforms and travel forums, attracting both newcomers and returning travelers.

K hiking is also finding a place in Seoul itineraries previously centered on palaces, markets and K pop sites. A morning or afternoon on a mountain can offer skyline views, conversations with other hikers and a cultural stop without requiring a separate overnight trip.

The practical advantages matter as much as the photographs. Multilingual signs, frequent trail markers and stairs, rails or boardwalks help visitors navigate. Short urban walks suit beginners, while demanding scrambles and longer volcanic climbs give experienced hikers a different kind of day.

A mountain outing with a meal at the end

James Miller, a visitor from Chicago aged 55, took his family to Seoraksan after several days of sightseeing in Seoul. They wanted a mountain outing without renting a car or arranging complicated transport.

Miller described the walk and the meal afterward as connected parts of the experience.

"It was a fun hike, and the food afterward was a highlight. We finished the trail, then found a place for a hearty Korean meal within minutes," said Miller.

Restaurants near trailheads make that combination easy. Hikers can finish a route and find hot food nearby, while convenience stores provide water, fruit and kimbap, rice rolls that are easy to carry. Families and backpackers also benefit from free park entry.

Seoul's trails attract students, people traveling alone, couples taking short breaks and visitors staying longer, according to city officials. For many, the draw is balance: exercise in the woods, views across the Han River and city towers, and a straightforward journey back into town.

Three hiking centers lower the barriers

The Seoul Hiking Tourism Centers at Bukhansan, Bugaksan and Gwanaksan support visitors with multilingual guidance, equipment rentals, lockers, changing rooms and shower facilities. Staff recommend routes according to difficulty and available time, and guided programs combine hiking with cultural activities.

The centers have welcomed roughly 40,000 users so far. The Seoul Tourism Organization says about one in three are from overseas. Lee Chan ho of the organization described particularly strong international demand at the Bukhansan location near the national park entrance.

"Foreign visitors now outnumber locals at the Bukhansan center," said Lee.

Each center serves a different kind of outing. Bukhansan stocks sturdier equipment for rocky, steep slopes. Bugaksan operates in a traditional hanok building and focuses on lighter equipment for shorter urban hikes, walks beside the city wall and picnics.

Gwanaksan's center is inside a subway station, with shoe sanitizers and clothing care machines among its practical additions. Hours typically run from 9:00 to 18:00, with closures on certain days. Advance reservations are recommended for rentals and guided programs.

City transport makes a mountain day possible

Catalina, a visitor from Romania, joined a group hike lasting three hours on Bugaksan with a large international crowd. She described transport and infrastructure as the main differences from hiking at home.

"In Korea, it is so easy to go climb mountains. In my country we have very high mountains, but we do not have the same infrastructure. Here, you can take a bus or the subway, start hiking, and be back in time for dinner," said Catalina.

Seoul's hiking centers report growing demand for guided outings that include fortress wall walks, archery tryouts or temple visits. Staff also report strong satisfaction scores from foreign participants, who praise clear route information, friendly guidance and affordable rentals.

The Seoul Top 10 Mountains Challenge gives international visitors another reason to explore. Participants choose 10 climbs from a list of 23 peaks, photograph themselves at each summit with a message towel and collect a commemorative gift after completing the challenge.

Organizers reported hundreds of participants from dozens of countries at the opening. Ansan, Yongmasan and Inwangsan have been the most popular mountains among international participants so far.

The challenge offers a way to build several outings into a stay rather than treating hiking as a single excursion. Visitors can choose among the listed peaks while using the city's transport network to reach different starting points.

Five parks offer very different experiences

Gyeongju National Park combines wooded hills with cultural heritage. A popular course brings together Bulguksa Temple, the stone grotto of Seokguram and Hwangridan gil, where artisan businesses and cafes line the streets. The combination suits families and travelers interested in history as well as nature.

Seoraksan, second in foreign attendance, is known for autumn color and granite ridges. Hallasan on Jeju Island offers a longer volcanic ascent through alpine meadows and lava formations. Bukhansan, on Seoul's northern edge, provides substantial mountain scenery without requiring visitors to leave the capital.

Hallyeohaesang presents a coastal alternative, with maritime views, island walks and lighthouses. Korea's popular park destinations therefore span several landscapes, rather than offering variations of the same climb.

National park services include multilingual signage, rescue call points and seasonal shuttle buses. Trail markers help visitors follow routes, while nearby shops and restaurants make it easier to obtain supplies before setting out or eat after returning.

Park admission is free, helping keep the basic cost of a mountain outing low. The combination of access, practical services and nearby food businesses helps explain why hiking can fit into a broader holiday rather than needing an entirely separate travel plan.

Food and shared moments shape trail culture

Hikers in Korea often make food part of the outing. At scenic overlooks and summits, people share instant noodles and gimbap, pose for photographs with finger hearts and exchange a few words with others on the trail. Paper cups of cool drinks also feature in these breaks.

Groups commonly meet at trailheads near Seoul on busy weekends, share snacks at the top and finish with soup or crispy jeon, Korean pancakes, at a local restaurant. Makgeolli, a Korean alcoholic drink, is another familiar part of meals after a hike.

Visitors describe an atmosphere that can feel welcoming to people arriving alone. Paths are active from early morning, and frequent rest areas, clear wayfinding and nearby public transport make it easier to adjust a day when the weather changes or tired legs call for a shorter route.

Urban hikes add history and sudden city panoramas. Sections of the ancient Seoul City Wall connect walking with views of the capital, while openings between trees reveal dense neighborhoods below.

Bukhansan offers varied ridge scrambles. Bugaksan has views beside the wall toward the Blue House area and central Seoul. Gwanaksan rises above Seoul National University, with rugged slopes, dramatic boulders and rock slabs that appeal to visitors seeking a workout.

Stairs, rails and occasional fixed cables help on more exposed sections, while wider dirt paths through lower valleys suit families and casual walkers. Visitors can choose a gentler route without giving up the experience of reaching wooded terrain close to the city.

More attention brings safety concerns

Park rangers say rising visitor numbers are accompanied by more rescues. Some visitors arrive without suitable shoes or maps. Others follow another person's GPS track onto unmarked paths. GPS tracks show where someone traveled, while official park maps identify the routes visitors are permitted to use.

Five Russian tourists needed help in 2025 after setting out at night toward Seoraksan's Daecheongbong Peak without flashlights or basic equipment for cold weather. Rangers located the group and escorted them down.

A representative of the Seoraksan National Park Office set out the guidance the office wants visitors to follow.

"Please check official maps and advisories, start early, and stay on marked routes. Avoid night hikes, and if you are unsure, go with someone experienced or join a guided group. Some routes suggested online are not official trails," the official said.

Search engines, social media and AI tools increasingly influence route choices. Park officials welcome interest in the mountains but warn that some online suggestions do not match official maps. Their advice is to check current notices and remain on permitted paths.

Most parks publish daily information about weather, closures and wildfire conditions. A headlamp remains useful even for a planned daytime outing, and extra layers help when mountain weather changes quickly. Starting early gives hikers more time to reach lower elevations before darkness.

Named trails and AI tools support safer visits

Jeonnam province has launched a project assigning official road names to hiking paths across 15 sections in five cities and counties. Trails and nearby facilities receive addresses that appear in navigation apps, helping visitors find their way and emergency responders locate people needing assistance.

The addresses also help people find public restrooms, shelters and information centers. Managers can use them to track maintenance needs more precisely. Newly named routes include the Goraksan Circular Trail in Yeosu, the Palyongsan Cypress Healing Forest Trail in Goheung and the Bulgap Reservoir Water Meditation Trail in Yeonggwang.

Naejangsan National Park has introduced an AI tourism butler service for congestion and safety during the busy autumn foliage season. It analyzes visitor density, displays parking availability in real time and uses integrated navigation to guide drivers toward the next open lot.

A sound based feature listens for distress audio, including calls for help, and sends alerts to a control dashboard. Multilingual services include live interpretation for tours and automatic translations on signs carrying QR codes.

The Naejangsan service was developed with the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Jeongeup City and private partners. Its parking information addresses congestion before a walk begins, while its other functions support navigation and communication during a visit.

Seoul's trailheads also have smaller practical additions, including air dust blowers for cleaning equipment. Sturdy paths in areas with heavy foot traffic complement the signs, rental services and advice available to hikers.

Choose a route that fits the day

Bukhansan offers valleys and ridges for a wide range of abilities, with granite domes providing broad views across Seoul. Marked routes begin at the park boundary. Weekends are lively, making an early start useful for visitors seeking a less crowded outing.

Bugaksan suits a shorter trip with historical interest. Walks beside the Seoul City Wall, views toward central Seoul and easier paths can fit into half a day. Some areas have entry hours, so visitors need to check the current schedule.

Gwanaksan offers a more rugged outing above Seoul National University. Rock slabs, boulders and sections with rails provide both photographic opportunities and physical effort. Its hiking center inside the subway station makes equipment and advice convenient to obtain.

Gyeongju works for travelers combining forest walks with Bulguksa, Seokguram and Hwangridan gil. Seoraksan and Hallasan are choices for a full day, with autumn scenery at the former and a longer volcanic climb at the latter. Seasonal advisories, trail quotas and weather need checking before departure.

A useful plan starts with travel time, terrain and the meal afterward. Visitors should choose a route they can complete comfortably, rather than selecting a summit photograph first and working out the demands later.

• Wear trail shoes or light boots with grip for stairs and rock.
• Carry layers and rain protection for changing mountain weather.
• Bring water and simple food, such as kimbap or fruit.
• Use official maps from park offices or visitor centers and stay on designated paths.
• Start early and leave steep sections well before sunset. Night climbs are discouraged.
• Take rubbish away and keep voices low around temples.
• Check hiking center schedules and reserve rentals or guided programs in advance.

The centers at Bukhansan, Bugaksan and Gwanaksan can help match a route to a visitor's time and experience. Guided hikes and cultural programs run on set schedules, while the mountain challenge offers a longer list of goals for those staying in the city.

Seoul connects mountains with daily life

Seoul is ringed by more than 100 named mountains. City planners have treated that geography as a public asset, investing in walkable streets, green corridors and public transport that make trailheads easier to reach without a car.

The Seoul Trail loops through foothills around the capital. Restored paths beside the historic fortress wall provide another way to combine exercise, heritage and city views. These routes connect outdoor recreation with the city rather than placing it far beyond everyday travel.

Researchers examining thousands of hiking reviews found that accessibility and aesthetics drive satisfaction. Visitors value reaching a mountain by bus or subway, understanding trail signs and seeing dense city blocks spread beneath open rock.

More signs, online guides and community events continue to connect transport with trails. Seasonal festivals, evening gatherings and plogging events, which combine exercise with picking up litter, sustain interest beyond the peak foliage weeks. Spreading visits among different sites also helps protect fragile areas.

The developments behind the current hiking appeal span several periods:

• 2022: The comparison year for KNPS figures showing subsequent growth in foreign park visits.
• 2024: National parks recorded 885,282 foreign visits, more than five times the 2022 figure.
• January to September 2025: KNPS recorded 582,077 foreign visits, with later visits still to be added.
• 2025: Rangers assisted five Russian tourists on a nighttime attempt toward Daecheongbong, reinforcing advice on equipment, timing and permitted routes.

Korea's hiking attraction rests on several connected experiences: reaching a trail by public transport, finding clear guidance, seeing mountains and cultural sites, and sharing food afterward. The same convenience that brings international travelers onto the trails also makes preparation essential, especially when a short city outing leads onto steep mountain ground.

Key Points

• KNPS recorded 885,282 foreign national park visits in 2024 and 582,077 through September 2025.
• Gyeongju led foreign attendance, followed by Seoraksan, Hallasan, Bukhansan and Hallyeohaesang.
• National park admission is free, with multilingual signs and practical services supporting visitors.
• Seoul's three hiking tourism centers offer rentals, facilities, route advice and guided activities.
• The Seoul Top 10 Mountains Challenge asks international visitors to complete 10 climbs chosen from 23 peaks.
• Officials advise early starts, suitable equipment and official maps after rescues involving poorly prepared visitors.
• Jeonnam is assigning trail addresses, while Naejangsan uses AI services for parking, crowd management and multilingual support.
• Public transport, cultural stops and meals after hiking help mountain outings fit into a city holiday.