Seoraksan National Park, National park in Gangwon Province, South Korea
Seoraksan National Park is a national park in the Gangwon Province of northeastern South Korea, near the city of Sokcho. The park covers a mountain landscape of granite peaks, forested valleys, rivers, and waterfalls, with trails ranging from short riverside walks to full-day climbs.
The area was designated a protected natural monument in 1965 and became an official national park in 1970. UNESCO recognized it in 1982, and it was added to an international register of protected areas in 2014.
Seoraksan has long been a place of Buddhist practice, and temples tucked into the mountain slopes are still active today. Near the main entrance, Sinheungsa Temple draws visitors with its large bronze Buddha statue and stone lanterns lining the path leading to it.
Spring and autumn are the most popular times to visit, though the park is open year-round. Arriving early in the morning helps avoid crowds, and it is worth checking trail conditions in advance since some routes may close due to snow or fire risk.
One of the park's most recognizable rock formations, Ulsanbawi, is made up of six large rounded granite blocks that jut out from the mountainside like giant bulges. The trail leading to it passes through narrow steps where hikers look straight down onto the rocks below.
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