Hallasan, Korea's Highest Peak at 1,947 m, and Its Rivals

Hallasan, at the center of Jeju-do, is Korea's highest mountain at 1,947 m. Jirisan has the country's second-highest peak and is widely seen as Korea's most popular mountain for climbing. So what is the most famous mountain in Korea? No single peak wins every vote. Height, climbing fame, history and easy access each point to a different mountain. This guide matches each kind of fame to one.

Hallasan for height, Jirisan for climbers: a one-glance guide

A wooden trail signpost stands at a fork on a mountain path with layered ridgelines fading into haze behind it.

Start by deciding what 'famous' means to you. Then find your row in the table below.

What 'famous' means to you	Mountain	Why it fits
Highest peak in the country	Hallasan	Sits at the center of Jeju-do
Highest on the mainland, loved by climbers	Jirisan	Has the second-highest peak nationwide
Historic Five Mountains	Paektusan, Jirisan and others	Part of old lists of renowned peaks
Guardian of Seoul	Bukhansan	Prominent peaks just north of downtown
Waterfalls and easy access	Seoraksan	Nicknamed the 'waterfall mountain'

Read the rows as a menu, not a ranking. The sections below follow the questions most first-timers ask next.

Hallasan is a shield volcano on Korea's biggest island

A wide, gently sloping volcano covered in forest rises from an island landscape, with a small crater lake near the summit.

Is Hallasan the highest mountain in Korea? Yes. It is also the most prominent one, and it rises from Jeju-do, the largest island in the country.

The mountain holds Baengnokdam, a crater lake and the island's holiest site. Its forested lower slopes shelter 14 Buddhist temples and a shrine. Hallasan is part of Jeju-do's UNESCO World Heritage listing. Its forests, alpine plants and rare wildlife give it more to offer than a number on a list.

Hallasan is also a favorite hiking destination. Well-kept trails such as Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa lead to the summit. Plan on a full day, because the climb has a start-time limit and a cutoff time at a midpoint. A late schedule can cost you the summit.

The stretch just below the top is steep and crowded, and it is the hardest part. Weather and strong wind can change quickly, so pack for it. Fill your water bottle before you start. A bus from Seogwipo to the trailhead can be tricky to work out, so sort out your ride the day before.

Jirisan leads the mainland and carries old prestige

Layered forested ridges of a large mainland mountain range stretch into the distance under soft morning light.

Hallasan stands on an island, so the mainland has its own tallest mountain. That is Jirisan, the 2nd highest mountain in South Korea. Change the rule from 'anywhere in Korea' to 'on the mainland' and the answer flips from Hallasan to Jirisan.

Climbers often rank it first, so if you define fame by popularity, it is Hallasan's strongest rival. Its reputation is not only about hiking. Jirisan appears in the Joseon-era list, the Silla-era list and the North Korean list of famous mountains.

South Korea has 7,846 named mountains, so fame comes in many kinds

South Korea has 7,846 named mountains. With that many, a mountain can earn its name for very different reasons.

Moaksan has a wide reputation in Korean spiritual culture, touching Buddhism, Taoism and shamanism alike. Marisan in Haman is best known for the ancient tombs of the Aragaya state. Their many relics bring Gaya culture to life. About 100 large tombs, thought to belong to Aragaya kings, sit near the top of the summit. Close to 1,000 smaller tombs lie on the lower side. The largest is Tomb No. 34, which measures 39.3 m around and 9.7 m high.

Address: 114 Bondong-gil, Gaya-eup, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do. Questions can be directed to +82-55-580-2551.

The Five Mountains of Korea are an old list split by the border

Korea's Five Mountains are five peaks with a special standing in Korean culture. People in the Silla era saw them as protectors of the country, so they held ceremonial rituals there.

List	Mountains
Joseon-era, in North Korea	Kumgangsan, Myohyangsan, Paektusan
Joseon-era, in South Korea	Samgaksan (now Bukhansan), Jirisan
North Korean list of famous mountains	Paektusan, Kumgangsan, Myohyangsan, Kuwolsan, Jirisan

In the Joseon-era list, Paektusan is the northern mountain and Jirisan is the southern one. Of the North Korean set, only Jirisan lies in South Korea.

Bukhansan and Achasan sit by Seoul, and Seoraksan is easy to reach

Bukhansan is called the 'guardian of Seoul,' and its range of prominent peaks lies just north of downtown. Seoraksan is nicknamed the 'waterfall mountain' and is known for easy access and scenery. It is also the highest mountain in Gangwon-do.

If you want a short hike close to the city, try Achasan. This 295 m mountain spreads across Seoul and the city of Guri. The trails are well kept, which makes it a good pick for beginners. From the summit you can look out over Seoul and the Hangang River, and the mountain is known for its fall colors. It costs nothing to enter and is open 24 hours, with restrooms and walking paths.

Course 2 takes about 2 hr. It goes from the meeting place to Naktagogae Pass, Goguryeojeong Pavilion, Haemaji Square, the summit and Daeseongam Hermitage, and then back.
Course 3 takes about 2 hr 30 min. It goes from the meeting place to the management office, Chinsugyegok Valley, Goguryeojeong Pavilion, the summit and Yongmasan Mountain, then ends at Ppeongtwigigol Valley.

Achasan is in Acheon-dong, Guri-si, Gyeonggi-do. For more help, call the 1330 Travel Hotline at +82-2-1330. It answers in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese.

Tall is not the same as famous

A height list only ranks height. It cannot tell you which mountain is the most famous.
Hallasan is simply 'the highest,' and height and fame are different yardsticks.
Counting the mainland only moves the title to Jirisan, so one pick cannot cover every rule.
Seoraksan's title as Gangwon-do's highest peak says little about its fame.

Pick the mountain by what you want from it

No single mountain can honestly claim fame above the rest. Hallasan is Korea's highest at 1,947 m, and Jirisan, home to the second-highest peak, is the climbers' favorite. Seoraksan is loved for its scenery, and Bukhansan is called the guardian of Seoul. Choose by what you want from the mountain, and fill your water bottle first.