Korean National Park Review
National Parks, Provincial Parks, Urban Parks, Temple Stays, Trails, and Korea’s Reforested Landscape
Introduction
Travels to Korean National Parks
Updated Korean River/Streambed Parks
Korea has one of the most extensive national, regional, and urban park systems in the world, covering virtually the entire country, with many parks located near subway stations, bus terminals, or major transportation hubs. As a result, access to natural areas is remarkably convenient, even for visitors without a car.
Over the years since I first arrived in Korea in 1979 as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I have visited many of Korea’s national parks, provincial parks, and urban green spaces. During that time, I witnessed firsthand Korea’s remarkable environmental transformation.
One of the most impressive success stories has been Korea’s nationwide reforestation campaign, which began in the 1960s. During my Peace Corps service in 1979 and 1980, I participated in tree-planting projects as part of that effort. What were once barren hillsides in many parts of the country have become thriving forests. Wildlife has recovered as well. Deer are now common, wild boars have expanded throughout the peninsula, and endangered Asiatic black bears have been successfully reintroduced into several national parks.
Many Korean national parks are also home to ancient Buddhist temples, some dating back more than a thousand years. Today, many of these temples offer organized Temple Stay programs that allow visitors to experience monastic life, meditation, traditional meals, and mountain culture. I personally stayed at Odaesan in 1982 when temple visits were much less formalized and long before today’s internationally recognized Temple Stay programs were established.
The following guide provides an overview of Korea’s major national parks, provincial parks, urban parks, trail systems, temple complexes, and the environmental recovery that has transformed the country over the past half-century.
National Parks of South Korea
| English Name | Korean | Romanization | Nearest City/Transit | Bukhansan National Park | 북한산국립공원 | Bukhansan Gungnip Gongwon | Seoul, Bukhansan Ui Station | Byeonsanbando National Park | 변산반도국립공원 | Byeonsanbando Gungnip Gongwon | Buan | Chiaksan National Park | 치악산국립공원 | Chiaksan Gungnip Gongwon | Wonju | Dadohaehaesang National Park | 다도해해상국립공원 | Dadohaehaesang Gungnip Gongwon | Mokpo / Yeosu | Deogyusan National Park | 덕유산국립공원 | Deogyusan Gungnip Gongwon | Muju | Gayasan National Park | 가야산국립공원 | Gayasan Gungnip Gongwon | Hapcheon | Geumjeongsan National Park | 금정산국립공원 | Geumjeongsan Gungnip Gongwon | Busan, Beomeosa Station | Gyeongju National Park | 경주국립공원 | Gyeongju Gungnip Gongwon | Gyeongju | Gyeryongsan National Park | 계룡산국립공원 | Gyeryongsan Gungnip Gongwon | Daejeon / Gongju | Hallasan National Park | 한라산국립공원 | Hallasan Gungnip Gongwon | Jeju City | Hallyeohaesang National Park | 한려해상국립공원 | Hallyeohaesang Gungnip Gongwon | Tongyeong | Jirisan National Park | 지리산국립공원 | Jirisan Gungnip Gongwon | Gurye / Namwon | Juwangsan National Park | 주왕산국립공원 | Juwangsan Gungnip Gongwon | Cheongsong | Mudeungsan National Park | 무등산국립공원 | Mudeungsan Gungnip Gongwon | Gwangju | Naejangsan National Park | 내장산국립공원 | Naejangsan Gungnip Gongwon | Jeongeup |
| Odaesan National Park
One for the first temple stay programs I stayed there in 1982 before there was a formal temple stay program |
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| 오대산국립공원 | Odaesan Gungnip Gongwon | Pyeongchang | Palgongsan National Park | 팔공산국립공원 | Palgongsan Gungnip Gongwon | Daegu | Seoraksan National Park | 설악산국립공원 | Seoraksan Gungnip Gongwon | Sokcho | Sobaeksan National Park | 소백산국립공원 | Sobaeksan Gungnip Gongwon | Yeongju |
| Songnisan National Park
Where I spent my honeymoon, features an old Buddhist temple and hot springs complex |
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| 속리산국립공원 | Songnisan Gungnip Gongwon | Boeun | Taeanhaean National Park | 태안해안국립공원 | Taeanhaean Gungnip Gongwon | Taean | Taebaeksan National Park | 태백산국립공원 | Taebaeksan Gungnip Gongwon | Taebaek | Wolchulsan National Park | 월출산국립공원 | Wolchulsan Gungnip Gongwon | Yeongam | Woraksan National Park | 월악산국립공원 | Woraksan Gungnip Gongwon | Jecheon |
Newest National Park
One of my favorites is Geumjeongsan National Park in Busan which officially opened on March 3, 2026, becoming Korea’s 24th national park and the nation’s first urban national park. The park encompasses approximately 66.9 square kilometers across Busan and Yangsan and contains more than 1,700 species of flora and fauna, 14 endangered species, and over 120 cultural heritage assets. The designation culminated a two-decade campaign by local civic organizations and transferred management to the Korea National Park Service. [korea.stripes.com], [online-korea.com], [breezeinflow.com], [busan.go.kr]
Provincial Parks (도립공원)
| English Name | Korean | Romanization | Nearest City | Cheongnyangsan Provincial Park | 청량산도립공원 | Cheongnyangsan Dorip Gongwon | Bonghwa | Cheongwansan Provincial Park | 천관산도립공원 | Cheongwansan Dorip Gongwon | Jangheung | Chilgapsan Provincial Park | 칠갑산도립공원 | Chilgapsan Dorip Gongwon | Cheongyang | Daedunsan Provincial Park | 대둔산도립공원 | Daedunsan Dorip Gongwon | Wanju | Deoksan Provincial Park | 덕산도립공원 | Deoksan Dorip Gongwon | Yesan | Duryunsan Provincial Park | 두륜산도립공원 | Duryunsan Dorip Gongwon | Haenam | Gajisan Provincial Park | 가지산도립공원 | Gajisan Dorip Gongwon | Miryang | Geumosan Provincial Park | 금오산도립공원 | Geumosan Dorip Gongwon | Gumi | Gyeongpo Provincial Park | 경포도립공원 | Gyeongpo Dorip Gongwon | Gangneung | Jogyesan Provincial Park | 조계산도립공원 | Jogyesan Dorip Gongwon | Suncheon | Maisan Provincial Park | 마이산도립공원 | Maisan Dorip Gongwon | Jinan | Moaksan Provincial Park | 모악산도립공원 | Moaksan Dorip Gongwon | Jeonju | Mungyeong Saejae Provincial Park | 문경새재도립공원 | Mungyeong Saejae Dorip Gongwon | Mungyeong | Naksan Provincial Park | 낙산도립공원 | Naksan Dorip Gongwon | Yangyang | Namhansanseong Provincial Park | 남한산성도립공원 | Namhansanseong Dorip Gongwon | Seongnam | Paryeongsan Provincial Park | 팔영산도립공원 | Paryeongsan Dorip Gongwon | Goheung | Seonunsan Provincial Park | 선운산도립공원 | Seonunsan Dorip Gongwon | Gochang | Yeonhwasan Provincial Park | 연화산도립공원 | Yeonhwasan Dorip Gongwon | Goseong | Yeoninsan Provincial Park | 연인산도립공원 | Yeoninsan Dorip Gongwon | Gapyeong |
Major Urban Parks
| English Name | Korean | Busan Citizens Park | 부산시민공원 | Olympic Park | 올림픽공원 | Namsan Park | 남산공원 | Seoul Forest | 서울숲 | Yeouido Park | 여의도공원 | Songdo Central Park | 송도센트럴파크 | Haneul Park | 하늘공원 | World Cup Park | 월드컵공원 | Ulsan Grand Park | 울산대공원 | Yangjae Citizens’ Forest | 양재시민의숲 | Incheon Grand Park | 인천대공원 | Daejeon Expo Citizens Park | 대전엑스포시민공원 | Busan Green Railway Park | 그린레일웨이공원 | Gimpo Venice Canal Street | 김포 라베니체 수변거리 | Yeongjongdo World Peace Forest | 영종도 세계평화의숲 |
Major Temple Complexes and Temple Stay Programs
| Temple | Korean | Location | Temple Stay | Beomeosa | 범어사 | Busan | Yes | Bulguksa | 불국사 | Gyeongju | Yes | Bongeunsa | 봉은사 | Seoul | Yes | Golgulsa | 골굴사 | Gyeongju | Yes | Haeinsa | 해인사 | Hapcheon | Yes | Magoksa | 마곡사 | Gongju | Yes | Mihwangsa | 미황사 | Haenam | Yes | Naksansa | 낙산사 | Yangyang | Yes | Naesosa | 내소사 | Buan | Yes | Beopjusa | 법주사 | Songnisan NP | Yes | Silleuksa | 신륵사 | Yeoju | Yes | Tongdosa | 통도사 | Yangsan | Yes | Woljeongsa | 월정사 | Odaesan NP | Yes | Yakcheonsa | 약천사 | Jeju | Yes |
Historic Temple Complexes
- Haeinsa (해인사) home of the Tripitaka Koreana.
- Tongdosa (통도사), one of Korea’s Three Jewel Temples.
- Songgwangsa (송광사), center of Korean Seon Buddhism.
- Bulguksa (불국사), UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Beomeosa (범어사), major temple of southeastern Korea.
- Woljeongsa (월정사), Odaesan National Park.
- Beopjusa (법주사), Songnisan National Park.
- Naksansa (낙산사), East Sea coastal temple.
- Magoksa (마곡사), UNESCO-listed Sansa temple complex.
- Buseoksa (부석사), one of Korea’s most famous mountain temples.
Korea’s Major Hiking and Cycling Trail Systems
National Long-Distance Trails
like in the US, there are nation-wide travel systems across the country. Here are some of them.
| English Name | Korean | Baekdudaegan Trail | 백두대간 트레일 | Korea Dulle-gil Network | 코리아 둘레길 | East Coast Trail | 해파랑길 | South Coast Trail | 남파랑길 | West Coast Trail | 서해랑길 | DMZ Peace Trail | DMZ 평화의 길 | Jirisan Dulle-gil | 지리산 둘레길 | Sobaeksan Jarak-gil | 소백산 자락길 | Palgongsan Dulle-gil | 팔공산 둘레길 |
Seoul Trail Networks
| English Name | Korean | Seoul Trail | 서울둘레길 | Seoul Hanyangdoseong Trail | 한양도성길 | Seoul History Trails | 서울역사탐방길 | Bukhansan Dulle-gil | 북한산 둘레길 | Namsan Circular Trail | 남산순환길 | Gwanaksan Dulle-gil | 관악산 둘레길 |
Incheon and Northwest Korea
| English Name | Korean | Incheon Dulle-gil | 인천둘레길 | Ganghwa Nadeul-gil | 강화나들길 | Yeongjong Coastal Trail | 영종 해안길 | Ara Canal Trail | 아라뱃길 | Gimpo Pyeonghwa Nuri-gil | 김포 평화누리길 | Paju Pyeonghwa Nuri-gil | 파주 평화누리길 |
Jeju Trails
| English Name | Korean | Jeju Olle Trail | 제주올레길 | Hallasan Trails | 한라산 탐방로 | Jeju Fantasy Bicycle Path | 제주환상자전거길 |
DMZ and Border Trails
| English Name | Korean | DMZ Peace Trail | DMZ 평화의 길 | Goseong DMZ Trail | 고성 DMZ 길 | Cheorwon DMZ Trail | 철원 DMZ 길 | Paju DMZ Trail | 파주 DMZ 길 | Ganghwa Peace Trail | 강화 평화길 |
Pyeongtaek and Gyeonggi Regional Trails
| English Name | Korean | Pyeongtaek Hansan Trail System | 평택 한산길 | Pyeongtaek Riverside Trail | 평택 강변길 | Gyeonggi Dulle-gil | 경기둘레길 | Namhansanseong Trail Network | 남한산성 탐방로 |
Major Streamside and Riverside Greenway Trails
One of Korea’s most popular outdoor activities is walking or cycling along restored stream corridors.
| English Name | Korean | Cheonggyecheon Stream Trail | 청계천 | Anyangcheon Greenway | 안양천 | Jungnangcheon Trail | 중랑천 | Tancheon Trail | 탄천 | Yangjaecheon Trail | 양재천 | Hongjecheon Trail | 홍제천 | Gulpocheon Trail | 굴포천 | Seunggi-cheon Trail | 승기천 | Han River Cycling Path | 한강 자전거길 | Nakdong River Bike Trail | 낙동강 자전거길 | Geum River Bike Trail | 금강 자전거길 | Yeongsan River Bike Trail | 영산강 자전거길 | Seomjin River Trail | 섬진강 자전거길 |
Korea’s Reforestation Miracle and Wildlife Recovery
Few countries have achieved an environmental turnaround as dramatic as South Korea’s.
Following the Korean War, much of the country was severely deforested. Mountains surrounding villages, towns, and cities were often bare due to fuel gathering, logging, and poverty. Beginning in the 1960s, the government launched one of the world’s most ambitious reforestation programs. Millions of trees were planted, erosion was controlled, and local communities participated actively in restoring forests
I participated in tree planting in Gapyeong County during my Peace Corps service in 1979-1981 as did my Peace Corps colleages nation-wide..
By the late twentieth century, Korea’s mountains had largely recovered. Today, visitors hiking throughout the country often find dense mixed forests stretching from valley floors to mountain summits.
Wildlife has benefited as well. Water quality has improved. Deer populations have recovered throughout much of the peninsula. Wild boars are now widespread. Raptors and migratory birds have returned to many habitats. Most significantly, the endangered Asiatic black bear has been successfully reintroduced into Jirisan National Park, where a breeding population is now established.
For travelers who first visited Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, the transformation is remarkable. What was once a country of largely denuded hillsides has become one of Asia’s leading examples of landscape restoration, combining protected parks, cultural heritage, Buddhist temple traditions, urban greenways, bicycle routes, and some of the most accessible mountain recreation anywhere in the world.
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