About 75% of South Korea's land mass is mountainous. The mountains are not high, the highest being Mt. Halla (Hallasan), on Jeju Island (Jeju-do), while Mt.Seorak (Seoraksan) is the highest mountain on the mainland. The most beautiful thing about having a country as densely populated as Korea is that you can always get away to the mountains, especially if you want to see one of Korea's numerous Buddhist temples or if you enjoy hiking. There is so much to see when you take a bus to a mountain temple site, which is often where hikes also start or end. The scenery is wonderful, the temple architecture second to none, and the historical aura of the temples is virtually untouched despite many having been rebuilt after the Japanese occupation of Korea from 1910-1945. Check out temples for much more detailed information.

As mentioned, Korea's mountainous terrain makes for some beautiful pictures, and although not the rocky peaks that you may see in the Swiss Alps or the Rockies of North America, it is wonderfully picturesque and you get that feeling of completeness once you reach the top of a mountain. From the top of Hallasan, you can see ocean in all directions with many beaches, and since Mt. Halla is a volcano, there are also numerous geologically distinct formations around the crater and along its slopes. Mt. Seorak, near the northeast coast of the ROK is very popular as well, with good beaches within 30 minutes of the base. Other mountains with temples and good hiking include : Jirisan near Jinju city, Bukhansan north of Seoul, Chiaksan in central Gangwondo province, Palgongsan just north of Daegu city, as well as Gayasan, on the border of Gyeongsangnam-do province and Jeolla-do province, where Haeinsa temple is located, and many others.

[edit] List of mountains in South Korea

• Hallasan (한라산; 漢拏山) - 1,950 m
• Jirisan (지리산; 智異山) - 1,915 m
• Seoraksan (설악산; 雪岳山) - 1708 m
• Deokyusan (덕유산; 德裕山) - 1,614 m
• Odaesan (오대산; 五臺山) - 1,563 m
• Nogodan (노고단; 老姑壇) - 1,507 m
• Bangtaesan (방태산; 方台山) - 1,444 m
• Manbokdae (만복대; 萬福臺) - 1,437 m
• Gayasan (가야산; 伽倻山) - 1,430 m
• Baekdeoksan (백덕산; 白德山) - 1,350 m
• Chiaksan (치악산; 雉岳山) - 1,288 m
• Baekunsan (백운산; 白雲山) - 1,278 m
• Taegisan (태기산; 泰岐山) - 1,261 m
• Namtaebong (남태봉; 南台峰) - 1,182 m
• Bohyeonsan (보현산; 普賢山) - 1,121 m
• Unjangsan (운장산; 雲長山) - 1,120 m
• Palgongsan (팔공산; 八公山) - 1,199 m
• Hwanghaksan (황학산; 黃鶴山) - 1,111 m
• Hwamaesan (황매산; 黃梅山) - 1,108 m
• Ungseokbong (웅석봉; 熊石峰) - 1,099 m
• Biseulsan (비슬산; 琵瑟山) - 1,084 m
• Goheosan (고헌산; 高獻山) - 1,033 m
• Jeoksangsan (적상산; 赤裳山) - 1,024 m
• Gyeryongsan
• Maisan
• Moodengsan
• Naejangsan (내장산; 內藏山)