Songnisan National Park (속리산국립공원) is in landlocked North Chungcheong province in South Korea.

Understand

Gwaneum Peak

Songnisan means “Remote from the Ordinary World”, which should appropriate given its remoteness in the center of South Korea, but rather less so when considering that the park gets about 1.5 million visitors a year.

History

Designated as a national park in 1970, it is home to several temples, mountains and abundant wildlife.

Landscape

Hiking in Songnisan

Famed for its scenery covering 274 km², the mountains have dramatic layered clouds that can be seen on rainy days.

Flora and fauna

A good place to find wildlife with Otters, Flying squirrels and Mandarin ducks, as well as protected species including the Small-eared cat and the marten,

Get in

Beopjusa Temple

The Beopjusa temple is located well in the park, and connected by road.

Fees and permits

Beopjusa Temple area:

• Adults: ₩4,000, group: ₩3,700
• Youths: ₩2,000, group: ₩1,600
• Children: ₩1,000, group: ₩800

There are additional fees for parking and facilities use.

See

• 1 Beopjusa Temple (법주사), 405 Beopjusa-ro Boeun-gun, 충청북도 보은군 속리사면 법주사로 405. Constructed in 553, is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism on the slopes of Songnisan. Visitors can spend time here in a temple stay. The temple is one out of 7 to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018. (updated Dec 2016)

Do

There are many hiking trails throughout the park. Some are closed during times when the authorities believe it to be dangerous.

Buy

• 1 CU store, Sanae-ri, Songnisan-myeon, Boeun-gun,. Shop located deep in the park (updated Dec 2016)

Sleep

Near Beopjusa Temple Stay

Lodging

• Beopjusa Temple. This Buddhist temple also provides Temple Stays. (updated Dec 2016)

The village of Sanae-ri has a lot of accommodation options:

• 1 Lake Hill Hotel (레이크힐스호텔속리산), 198-1 Sanae-ri, Songnisan-myeon, Boeun-gun. (updated Dec 2016)