Hwawangsan, Mountain peak in Changnyeong County, South Korea.

Hwawangsan is a 757-metre mountain in Changnyeong County, South Gyeongsang Province, formed by an ancient volcano whose crater holds three ponds, called yongji. A fortress, Hwawangsanseong (Historic Site No. 64), rings the summit. The mountain was designated a county park on 11 January 1984.

Hwawangsanseong, a fortress on the summit ridge, is Historic Site No. 64. During the Imjin War the righteous army leader Gwak Jae-u used it as a base to repel Japanese forces, and a memorial stele for the victory of the righteous army stands on the mountain.

The name Hwawang combines hwa (fire) and wang (vigorous), taken from the annual burning of dry weeds and rice fields held every January 15. The summit fortress, Hwawangsanseong (Historic Site No. 64), is a standing stone wall, not a ruin. A memorial stele on the mountain honours Gwak Jae-u, who used the fortress against Japanese forces during the Imjin War.

Several hiking trails with varying difficulty levels lead to the summit with clear signs marking the way. Bring sturdy shoes and be prepared for forest conditions, especially if visiting during rainy periods or winter months.

From the hilltop fortress, visitors enjoy wide views of the Nakdonggang river system stretching across the landscape below. On clear days you can see far into surrounding areas, making obvious why this location held such military value in the past.