Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
4 easy mountain trails accessible by subway in Seoul
Hikers sit on a rock at Baegundae Peak of Mount Bukhan in Seoul, Feb. 26. Courtesy of Seoul Tourism Organization
By Lee Hae-rin
Minutes after stepping off the subway, visitors in Seoul can find themselves climbing toward mountain vistas high above the capital. In few other capitals can hikers leave a downtown train and begin an ascent almost immediately — a convenience officials say has helped turn “K-hiking” into a travel essential alongside Korean food and K-pop.
The Seoul Tourism Organization (STO) has spotlighted four trails on Mount Bukhan, Mount Gwanak, Mount Nam and Mount Acha as must-visit routes this spring, citing their easy access, gear rentals and scenery that layers granite peaks with skyscrapers, royal palaces and the Han River.
At the city-run Seoul Hiking Tourism Center sites near Mount Bukhan, Mount Bugak and Mount Gwanak, visitors can rent boots, clothing and trekking poles for a small fee, get trail information in four languages and store their belongings in lockers before setting out.
The Seoul Hiking Tourism Center near Mount Bukhan in Seoul / Courtesy of Seoul Tourism Organization
Mount Bukhan, home to the popular Baegundae Peak course, remains the centerpiece, offering a steep but manageable two-hour climb that rewards even novice hikers with sweeping views of northern Seoul, ringed by a chain of mountains and high-rise skylines.
Mount Gwanak, with its cliff-hugging Yeonju-dae hermitage and dramatic granite ridges rising from the city’s southwest, offers one of Seoul’s most thrilling summit views over the southern districts and the Han River.
Mount Nam in the city’s heart has become a pop culture landmark after it was featured in the hit Netflix animation “KPop Demon Hunters.” A newly opened barrier-free deck trail on the mountain allows wheelchairs and families with strollers to reach the summit and its 360-degree cityscape.
Mount Acha, with its lower elevation and gentler slopes, offers sunrise and sunset lookouts over the Han River and Lotte World Tower, attracting younger hikers and first-timers who come for short treks and photo-ready views.
A nighttime view from the Sunrise Observatory in Mount Acha, Seoul / Courtesy of Seoul Tourism Organization
Tourism officials said post-hike food stops near trailheads — from tofu hotpots to savory pancakes paired with makgeolli (traditional Korean fermented rice alcohol) — are helping spread Seoul’s hiking culture and boost neighborhood economies.
The STO said it launched the second edition of the Global Hiking Mate on Saturday, a project designed to amplify that appeal, turning 100 selected influencers from 32 countries into on-the-ground ambassadors who share Seoul’s trails, skyline views and post-hike culture with global followers.