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South Korea Big 3 Challenge

South Korea · Taebaek Mountains

7-day hiking itinerary, reaching about 1,947 metres

Route mini map

Route overview

Most itineraries start on Jeju with Hallasan, continue to the Jirisan bases for the long ascent to Cheonwangbong, and finish around Sokcho with the Daecheongbong day in Seoraksan. The challenge is built around three separate summit pushes linked by domestic transfers, so it feels like a journey across South Korea as much as a mountain itinerary.

Why travellers choose this trip

South Korea Big 3 Challenge is a hiking itinerary running over 7 days with a high point around 1,947 metres and a challenging grading.

Three signature Korean summits, varied terrain from island volcano to long ridges and granite peaks, and a journey that crosses the country through its best-known national parks.

Route stages

Stage 1

Hallasan summit day from Jeju

Jeju City to Jeju City

Distance
19.2 km
Ascent
1,250M
Time
8h

Early start from Jeju for the Hallasan trailhead, followed by a full summit day on long volcanic mountain paths and a return to the island base.

Stage 2

Jirisan Cheonwangbong summit day from Gurye

Gurye to Gurye

Distance
18.5 km
Ascent
1,500M
Time
10h

The biggest endurance day of the challenge, with a long climb through forest and ridge terrain to Jirisan's highest point before returning to the southern park base.

Stage 3

Seoraksan Daecheongbong summit day from Sokcho

Sokcho to Sokcho

Distance
17 km
Ascent
1,250M
Time
9h

A steep final summit day above Sokcho, usually involving an early transfer to the trailhead and a long return from Seoraksan's main high summit.

Mountains summited on this trip

Peak Hallasan Jeju volcanic massif Peak Jirisan (Cheonwangbong) Sobaek Mountains Peak Seoraksan (Daecheongbong) Taebaek Mountains

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Mountain collections

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