The Top-10 Sacred South Korean Mountains
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These 10 famous mountains are the ones I have judged to be the holiest in contemporary South Korea
(the Republic of Korea), mainland only (not the islands) by the criteria explained on this page and my 20
years of visiting them and studying this subject. They break down in a convenient and balanced split
between 17 in the central and western regions and 16 in the eastern regions (mostly, the Taebaek Range
and its southern extention now dubbed the "Yeongnam Alps", going as far west in the southern region as
the Nakdong River. They are listed here North-to-South. Only six mountains from the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) are listed, due to our lack of information about historical and
current mountain-worship traditions there; those six are labled "DPRK". Click on the name to see my
photos and discussion of that mountain and its San-shin shrines.
Central & Western Korea:
The Bukhan-san Sub-Range
especially Samgak-san 삼각산 840m and Inwang-san
인왕산 388m, and also including An-san, Bugak-san,
Dobong-san, Sapye-san, Surak-san, Bulam-san and
Acha-san. North and East of Seoul City. Some of
these are in the Bukhan-san National Park, others are
Local Parks.
Sogni-san 속리산
North Chungcheong Prov, National Park, 1058m
Gyeryong-san 계룡산
Daejeon & Gongju Cities, National Park, 845m
Ma-i-san 마이산
North Jeolla Province, Jinan County,
Provincial Park, 618m
Jiri-san 지리산
Gurye County of South Jeolla Province; Hadong,
Sancheong and Hamyang Counties of South
Gyeongsang Province; and Namwon City of North
Jeolla Province; National Park, Cheonhwang-bong
1915m, Banya-bong 1733m & Nogo-dan 1507m
Eastern Korea:
Odae-san 오대산
Pyeongchang County & Gangneung City,
National Park, 1563m
Taebaek-san 태백산
Gangwon Province, Taebaek City,
Provincial Park, 1567m
(including Hambaek-san of Taebaek-shi, and Cheong-ok-san,
Guryong-san and Eungbong-san of Bonghwa & Uljin Counties)
Palgong-san 팔공산
Daegu City, Provincial Park, 1187m
Nam-san 남산 (aka Geum-o-san)
Gyeongju City, National Park, 466m
Geumjeong-san 금정산
Busan City, City Parks, 802m
(including Sanggye-bong, Sanghak-san, Baekyang-san,
Eumgwang-san, Gubong-san and Yongdu-san)