1. The Korean Mountain Landscape
With mountainous terrain covering 70% of the peninsula, hiking (*Deungsan*) is a beloved national pastime. Korean national parks feature well-maintained trails with wooden staircases, steel cable rails, and solar-powered emergency rescue markers located every 500 meters.
2. Trail Difficulty Color Coding
National Park Service map boards display standardized route difficulties:
- Yellow (Easy): Gentle slopes, paved walkways or wide gravel trails.
- Green (Moderate): Standard forest trails, some rocky sections.
- Blue (Advanced): Steep stone staircases and sustained uphill ascents.
- Red/Black (Expert): Exposed granite boulders, vertical steel ladders, requiring proper hiking boots and handrails.
3. Critical Safety Rules & Strict Prohibitions
- Alcohol Ban (Geumju): Consuming alcohol in national parks (especially summits and shelters) is strictly illegal and subject to heavy fines up to 200,000 KRW.
- Curfew Cut-Off Times (Ipsan Tongje): To prevent stranded hikers after dark, national parks enforce mandatory seasonal entry cut-off hours (typically 14:00 - 15:00 in winter, 16:00 in summer). You will be turned back at trailheads after these times.
- Dial 119 & Rescue Coordinates: In emergencies, quote the yellow-and-black 4-digit code on trail rescue posts to dispatch helicopter rescue teams.