5 Hill Stations You Must Visit In South Korea

Writer: Lavanya Sukumaran (Vadodara, Gujarat, India)

Editor: Devyani Segan (Delhi, India)

South Korea’s scenic beauty is something that is witnessed once or twice every day by K-drama fans. This scenic beauty is what makes each one of us crave to get an opportunity to visit such places once in a lifetime in person. Korean topography features several picturesque landscapes and places such as mountains, hills, islands, plains, and coastlines.

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One such bewitching landscape of South Korea includes its hill stations, which offer panoramic perfection, with every turn revealing a new canvas of natural splendors. Here are suggestions of some of the most captivating hill stations one should visit in South Korea!

Namsan

Namsan, also popularly known as Namsan Mountain, is a mountain with an elevation of 270 m above sea level and is the highest mountain peak located in Jung-gu, Seoul. It was officially named Mongmyeoksan in the past, but now it is commonly known as Mt. Namsan. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Seoul.

Namsan Mountain consists of Seoul Tower, Namsan Cable Cars, and Namsangol. Hanok Village and offers picnic spots, hiking areas, and spellbinding views of the downtown Seoul Skyline. It has always been a popular destination for couples and visitors, as they often attach love locks to the fences as a symbol of their love. Thus, in K-dramas, confessing love on the first day of snow at Namsan Tower is regarded as a tradition that is followed by all K-drama fans.

Jirisan

Jirisan is a mountain located in the southern region of South Korea. It is the 2nd highest mountain in South Korea with a height of 1915 m. It is a designated World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The mountain is in Jirisan National Park and is a pilgrimage destination with cultural significance, as it is one of the three most important mountains in South Korea, along with Hallasan and Seoraksan.

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The cultural significance of the mountain is marked by the seven major Buddhist temples situated in Jirisan. Hwaeomsa is the largest and best-known temple among these. The best time to visit this mountain is the autumn and summer seasons, and this time usually has a greater number of visitors, irrespective of the other seasons. The mountain is advertised as having ten scenic views. These are ‘Sunrise from Cheonwang-bong peak,’ ‘Nogodan Sea of Clouds,’ ‘Banyabong’s Nakjo,’ ‘Full moon at Byukso-ryung,’ ‘Piagol Autumn Leaves,’ ‘Royal Azalea Blossoming,’ ‘Chilseon Valley,’ ‘Seomjincheongryu,’ ‘Buril waterfall,’ and ‘Yeonha-Sunkyung.’. Jirisan National Park has several hiking routes.

Pyeongchang

Pyeongchang is a county in the Gangwon Province of South Korea. It is famously known for hosting the international event of the Winter Olympics in 2018. The place is known for its cold weather and picturesque landscapes, making it the most suitable place for winter sports events.

Pyeongchang is in the Taebaek Mountains region and is home to several Buddhist temples, including Woljeongsa, which is the head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. The place also offers several adventure sports, such as skiing, snowboarding, and other thrilling winter sports at Alpensia Resort. 

Jeonju

Jeonju is a historical hill station celebrated for its traditional Hanok village. It is the capital and largest city of Jeollabuk-do, South Korea. As the name suggests, Jeonju means “the perfect region” and is the best tourist place, as it has a blend of everything, be it K-food, K-culture, or everything. In 2012 was designated as a UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy. Jeonju is also considered the birthplace of bibimbap, which is a popular Korean dish consisting of rice, vegetables, meat, and a spicy sauce.

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There is also a historical shrine of King Taejo named Gyeonggijeon present, which is surrounded by a peaceful park. Jeonju also hosts several festivals, such as the Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) and Jeonju Hanji Culture Festival, where they showcase several remarkable Korean films and Korean artists’ art pieces. There is also a gate named Pungnammun Gate, which is one of the remaining city gates of Jeonju.

Boseong-gun

It is a county located in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. Boseong is a hill station famous for its green tea leaves and its serene landscape. Boseong is also known as the Green Tea Capital of Korea. The main tourist attractions of this place are majorly connected with tea plantations, which consist of the Boseong Green Tea Festival, Boseong Dawon Tea Plantation, Boseong Tea Museum, and Boseong Five-Day Market.

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Janggabongsan Mountain is a beautiful peak in Boseong, which is known for its pathways and panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. It’s the best place for hiking enthusiasts and those who love nature a lot. Tourists coming to Boseong can also enjoy Nokcha ice cream, a popular local treat made with green tea.

Which one among the above would you like to visit? Do let us know in the comments!