How do I start hiking in Korea but I am a beginner?

Korea is genuinely a hiking paradise, with 70 percent of the country covered in mountains and excellent trail infrastructure. For beginners, you don't need much: comfortable hiking shoes (running shoes work for easy trails), water (1L per 2 hours), snacks, layers since temperatures change with altitude, and a basic raincoat. Korean hikers go all-out with branded gear (블랙야크, K2, 노스페이스), but it's not necessary at all to start.

For your first hikes in Seoul, Bukhansan's Bukhansan Dulle-gil (둘레길) is a flat 71km loop trail circling the mountain at the base, divided into 21 short sections of 2 to 5 hours each. Inwangsan (3 hours round trip), Naksan (1 hour), and Namsan (1.5 hours, with cable car option) are perfect intro hikes with great city views. Cheonggyesan and Gwanaksan are slightly more challenging at 4 to 5 hours but very rewarding.

Nationwide, Seoraksan in Gangwon-do is the most famous, with cable cars to Gwongeumseong for non-hikers and a wide range from 1-hour walks to 12-hour summit hikes. Jirisan, Hallasan (on Jeju), and Deogyusan have similarly beginner-friendly options alongside serious challenges.

Useful tips: download the Tranggle (트랭글), Ramblr, or Naver Map app for offline trail maps. Korean trails are extremely well-marked with colored ribbons, distance signs every 500m, and rest spots with shelters. Start early (6 to 8am) to avoid afternoon crowds and sun. Avoid hiking during monsoon (late June-July) when trails get slippery and during typhoon warnings. Korean Alpine Federation (kafnet.or.kr) and Seoul Hiking Group (Meetup, Facebook) organize free beginner hikes with English-speaking leaders most weekends. Pack out all trash since there are no bins on trails. Most importantly, the 119 emergency line works even without cell service through emergency tower beacons along trails. Have fun!