Mudeungsan National Park

무등산국립공원

The national park on Gwangju's eastern edge, distinguished by the columnar rock formations near its summit. Mudeungsan National Park applies entry-control times at trail control points. There is no fee, but trails close in bad weather — checking the closures before you set out is the most important preparation for this mountain.

Language

Mudeungsan rising behind central Gwangju, the Gwangju stream and bare winter trees in front of the built-up city, the ridge running gently across the skyline

Place information

Korean name: 무등산국립공원
Opening hours: Jan–Feb, Dec 04:00 (last entry 16:00) Mar–Nov 04:00 (last entry 17:00)
Closed: Not published by the operator
Hours notes: These times apply at trail control points. Check separate Korea National Park Service notices for temporary trail closures and summit-opening events.
Time needed: Full day
Admission: Free

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Nearby

Asia Culture Center

The Asia Culture Center is a national cultural complex that operates the former Jeonnam Provincial Office buildings as a space known in Korean as 민주평화교류원. All facilities other than this ACC space are underground. Indoor facilities are open 10:00–18:00 and outdoor facilities 06:00–22:00. Indoor facilities close on Mondays, while the official information does not say whether the outdoor hours apply on Mondays.

Gwanbangjerim

It is free, it has no gate and no hours, and it starts at the bridge in front of Juknokwon — which is why it is the piece of the walk most people cross without noticing they are on it.

Juknokwon

The bamboo is the reason to come, but the thing that shapes a day here is that the grove, the embankment forest and the tree lane sit within a couple of kilometres of one another, and the county files that walk under a menu nobody opens.

Damyang Metasequoia Lane

You pay 2,000 won and get 2,000 won back — in vouchers you can only spend in Damyang. It is not the free country road most guides describe, and it is not quite a paid attraction either.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee?

No — the Korea Tourism Organization lists it as free. Temples inside the park and the car parks can charge separately, though.

Do I have to go to the top?

The summit area held military installations for decades and access is still managed and announced separately. For a single day, walking up from the Jeungsimsa side to the mid-slopes shows you what the mountain is.

Which side do I go in from?

The easiest entrance from central Gwangju is the Jeungsimsa side in Dong-gu, where the park office also is. The Wonhyosa side in Buk-gu is the far trailhead — they sit on opposite sides of the mountain, so one day rarely uses both.

Stories about this place

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