National parks of South Korea

From New World Encyclopedia

The national park system in Korea celebrated its 40 anniversary, and the 20th anniversary of the Korea National Park Service (KNPS) in 2007. [1] The KNPS operates its own police force, and since 1998 has been under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment.

The Park Service prohibits most forms of development in the system, cover a total of 6.6% of the country's area, typically located in mountainous or coastal regions. Jirisan National Park in the southwest, the country's largest mountain park, also holds the distinction of the first designated national park in 1967. Dadohae, the largest marine park, measures more than 2,200 km², almost all water. Wolchulsan sits at the bottom of the list for size with only 56.1 km².

Land-based parks

  • Jirisan National Park, designated as the first national park on Dec. 29, 1967 , in Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do, 471.75 km². Jirisan, considered the founding place of Buddhism in Korea, hosts a number of sacred historical sites in Korea including Hwaeomsa, one of the ten most famous temples in Korea, Naewonsa (Temple), Beopgyesa (Temple), Silsangsa (Temple), and Yeongwonsa (Temple). Known as on of the three mountains where God dwells (Samsinsan), Jirisan ranks with Geungangsan and Hallasan. The site has been referred to as Duryusan or Bangjangsan, indicating a place of the highest state of enlightment. Cheonwangbong is the second highest mountain in Korea at 1,915 meters.
Jirisan National Park Site
  • Gyeongju National Park, in Gyeongsangbuk-do, 138.72 km². [1] Gyeongju is an important historical site during the Silla and Unified Silla dynasties. Historical sites abound including Bulguksa, Seokguram, the Emily Bell, tombs of Silla kings and queens. Gyeongju may stand alone in the world as a modern city, historical site, and national park all combined in one. Gyeongju National Park Site
Brother and Sister Pagodas
  • Gyeryongsan National Park, designated as a national park on December 31, 1968, in Chungcheongnam-do and Daejeon, 64.68 km². Gyeryongsan achieved fame in China during the Three Kingdoms period as a mountain area of exceptional beauty. Koreans considered the site holy, conducting important rituals on the peaks. Gyeryongsan had been a candidate for capital of Joseon, Several renown temples reside in Gyerongsan National Park including Donghaksa (Temple), the college of the Buddhist priesthood for Buddhist nuns, Nammaetap pagodas, Gapsa (Temple) (considered one of the three great ones - Tongdosa, Songgwangsa, and Hwaeomsa).
Gyeryongsan National Park
  • Seoraksan National Park, designated as National Park in March 1970, in Gangwon-do, 398.53 km², is divided into Oe (Outer) Seorak, Nae (Inner) Seorak, and South Seorak. has Buddhist temples tucked away in the mountains including Sinheungsa[temple], Gwongeumseong (high in the rocks), Baekdamsa (Temple)( the retreat of famed poet monk Han Yongun)
Seoraksan National Park
People on an outing at Seoraksan
  • Songnisan National Park, designated as a national park on March 24, 1970, in Chungcheongbuk-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do, 274.54 km². Songnisan, meaning "renouncing the world," considered by many as one of the eight most beautiful places in Korea. Beopjusa (Temple), considered the greatest temple in Korea, sits tucked away inside Songnisan. Smaller temples like Sujeongam, Jungsajaam, Bokcheonam, also grace Songnisan. The park is the site for the immensely popular made for TV drama, "Taejo Wanggon," the first King of Goryeo Dynasty.
Songnisan National Park
  • Hallasan National Park, at the center of Jeju-do, 153.39 km² in size. The dormant volcano Hallason, or Mt. Halla, numbers among the "three mountains where God lives" (Samshinsan) in Korea. Hallasan stands as the tallest mountain in Korea, rising 1950 meters. Baengnokdam, or White Deer Lake, crater has a depth of 110 meters.
Hallasan National Park
Songgwangsa Temple
  • Naejangsan National Park, designated as a National Park on November 17, 1971, in Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do, 81.72 km². Considered one of the eight most beautiful places in Korea. Gulgeori trees (Natural Treasure No. 91) and Bija trees (Natural Treasure No. 153) grow in the park. Naejangsa (Temple), Baegyangsa (Temple), Wonjeogam (Temple), Byeongnyeonam (Temple) (A noted calligrapher of the Joseon Dynasty, Kim Jeonghui resided here), Ibamsan Fortress.
Naejangsan National Park
  • Gayasan National Park, designated the 9th National Park of Korea on October 13, 1972, in Gyeongsangnam-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do, 77.07 km². Gayasan received it's name from the shape of the mountain, resembling the head of a cow (Udusan). Haeinsa(Temple) and Palmandaejanggyeong, housing the Tripitaka Koreana carved on over 80,000 wood blocks sit secluded in the mountains. The renown monk Samyeongdaesa resided in Hongjeam Temple in the 1600s. Other sacred Buddhist sites include Hirangdae, the retreat of monk Hirang, and Cheongnyangsa(temple).
Gayasan National Park
  • Deogyusan National Park, designated as the 10th National Park on February 1, 1975, in Jeollabuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do, 231.65 km². Joseon Dynasty Jeoksangsanseong(Fortress), Anguksa(Temple), Rajetongmun(Gate)---the ancient border between Silla and Baekje, Baengnyeonsa (Temple), Wontongsa (Temple), and Songgyesa (Temple) rest within the park.
Deogyusan National Park
Seoraksan Mountain Top
  • Odaesan National Park, designated a National Park on 1st February 1975, in Gangwon-do, 303.93 km². Odaesan is considered one of the four greatest mountains in Korea along with Geumgangsan, Hallasan, and Jirisan. Four National Treasures Sangwonsa Dongjong (bronze bell), Sangwonsa Munsudongja Jwasang (seated statue of child monk), Woljeongsa palgakgucheung seoktap (octagonal nine-story stone pagoda in Woljeongsa temple), Sangwonsa Jungchanggwonseon-mun(book) along with two treasures and local treasures. Woljeongsa(temple) and Sangwonsa(temple)nestle in the park.
Odaesan National Park
  • Juwangsan National Park, designated as the 12th National Park on March 30, 1976, in Gyeongsangbuk-do, 107.43 km². A rocky refuge, kings have hidden during a rebellion in the mountains. Daejeonsa [Temple], with Bogwangjeon, a royal palace, designated Tangible Treasure No. 202 of Gyeongsangbuk-do(Province). The renown monk, Samyeongdaesa, who recruited soldiers and trained them during the Japanese invasion, resided there. Two temples, Juwangam and Baengnyeonam in Daejeonam, lay nearby. Juwangam [Temple] and Juwangul [Cliff and Cave] sit the the park.
Juwangsan National Park
  • Bukhansan National Park, designated as 15th national park in Korea, on the 2nd April 1983, in Seoul and Gyeonggi, 79.92 km². At Bukhansan, you can see the 500-year-old fortress wall (Bukhansanseong), many temples including fifteen traditional temples and over 100 small attached temples including the old temple Doseonsa, Hwagyesa (Temple), Seunggasa (Temple), Jinwansan (Temple), Mangwolsa (Temple), and Taegosa (Temple).
Bukhansan National Park
Buddhist temple on cliff
  • Chiaksan National Park, designated as the 16th national park in Korea on December 31, 1984, in Gangwon-do, 181.63 km². The north ridgeline from Guryongsa(Temple) to Birobong(Peak) is especially famous for its steepness. Sangwonsa(Temple)sits at the highest place in Korea, Namdaebong Peak (1,181m). Other temples include Guryongsa (Temple), Ipseoksa(Temple), YeongWonsa (Temple), and Gukhyangsa (Temple). Yeongwonsanseong (Mountain Fortress Wall), Ipseoksa Pagoda and Mireuktap(Pagoda) also stand in the park.
Chiaksan National Park
  • Woraksan National Park, designated the 17th national park on 31 December 1984, in Chungcheongbuk-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do, 287.98 km². Mireungnisaji (Temple Site), Deokjusa (Temple), and Deokjusanseong (Fortress Walls) lay within the park.
Woraksan National Park
  • Sobaeksan National Park, designated a national park on December 14, 1987, in Chungcheongbuk-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do, 322.38 km². Meaning "small mountain" in Korean, the mountain is actually gigantic third only to Jirisan and Seoraksan. Buseoka (Temple) and Sosuseowon have served to nurture Buddhism and Confucianism in Korea for about 1000 years. Huibangsa (Temple), built around 500 C.E., has a long history fostering monastic Buddhism in Sobaeksan refuge.
Sobaeksan National Park
  • Wolchulsan National Park, became Korea's 20th national park on 11th June 1988, in Jeollanam-do, 56.1 km². Legend maintains that 99 small and large temples have resided in the Wolchulsan area. Koreans have bestowed spiritual qualities to "female" and "male" rocks, "Yeongam" numbering among them.
Wolchulsan National Park
  • Byeonsanban-do National Park, in [Jeollabuk-do]], 154.72 (9.2 km² water), designated the 19th National Park on June 11, 1988. Byeonsanban hosts ancient temples including Gaeamsa, Naesosa, and Wolmyeongam. The Yucheolli ancient ceramic ware remains, the Guamni dolmen site, Hobeolchi, and Ugeumsanseong mountain fortress wall also inhabit the national park.
Byeonsanbando National Park

Marine parks

Mother holding infant near ocean
  • Dadohae Haesang National Park, Jeollanam-do, 2,321.51 km² (1,986.68 km² water).


Dadohaehaesang National Marine Park


  • Hallyeo Haesang National Park, Jeollanam-do and Gyeongsangnam-do, 545.63 km² (395.48 km² water).
  • Taean-haean National Park, Chungcheongnam-do, 326.57 km² (289.54 km² water).

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