Mount Kumgang

Japanese map of Kongō-san, or Mount Kumgang in 1939.

Mount Kumgang has been known for its scenic beauty since ancient times[2][3][4] and is the subject of many different works of art. Including its spring name, Kŭmgangsan (Korean: 금강산; Hanja: 金剛, Korean pronunciation: [kɯmɡaŋsʰan]), it has many different names for each season, but it is most widely known today in the Korean language as Kŭmgangsan. In summer it is called Pongraesan (봉래산, 蓬萊山: the place where a Spirit dwells); in autumn, Phung'aksan (풍악산, 楓岳山: hill of colored leaves, or 楓骨山: great mountain of colored leaves[5]); in winter, Kaegolsan (개골산, 皆骨山: stone bone mountain).

The creation of Mt. Kŭmgang is closely related to the unique climate and distinctive geological activity of the area.[6] Mt. Kŭmgang is a region where rain and snow fall relatively heavily, and the climate varies depending on altitude and even east-west location.[6] The Kŭmgang geological layer is composed of several types of rocks from ancient geological periods.[7] The most widely distributed rocks are granites of two types (mica mixed and stained), with granite-gneissic fertilization zones being formed in some areas.[7] The rocks are transversely oriented and form a joint in various directions, forming unusual terrains and strange rocks, which have been formed as a result of erosion for a long period of crustal activity and weathering, from 10 million years to the present.[6][7]

Location of Mount Kumgang in eastern Korea

Kŭmgang Mountain ranges from Tongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, to Inje-gun, Gangwon-do in the Republic of Korea.[8] The area is up to 40 km long east-west, 60 km north-south, with a total size of 530 km² to the back of Baekdudaegan. It is divided between the 'Inner Kumgang' in the west and the 'Outer Kumgang' in the east. The area on the east side of the Yeongeum River is called 'Hae Kumgang' ('Sea Kumgang'). The main peak of Mt. Kŭmgang is Pirobong, and there are more than 60 peaks over 1,000 meters. Combined with countless sub-peaks, they were historically called '12,000 peaks'.[8] Many scenic spots in the area are designated as natural monuments of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The southern part of the 'Outer Kumgang' is also called 'New Kumgang'.[9] There are 11 areas in Outer Kumgang, 8 in Inner Kumgang and 3 in Hae Kumgang,[10] although not all have been opened.

Outer Kumgang

The path to Kuryoung Falls

Kuryong Falls

'Outer Kumgang' (외금강) is located to the east of the 'Inner kumgang' and covers an area along the east coast. The Outer Kŭmgang area is noted for the large number of peaks. Chipson Peak (literally 'rock of ten thousand forms') is known for its many waterfalls. It includes many mountain peaks including Moonjoo Peak, Ho Peak, Sangdeung Peak, etc. The 'Sea Kŭmgang' area is known for the lagoons and stone pillars.

Kuryong Falls ('Nine Dragons Falls') in Kuryongyeon is one of the three major waterfalls in Korea along with Daeseung Falls in Seoraksan.[12] It is 74 meters in height and 4 meters in width.[12] The waterfall cliffs and the bottom are made of one granite mass.[12] Bibbong Waterfall is 139 meters higher, and is named for its refreshing water stream.[13] The rocks there are associated with unique legends.[14]

It belongs to the alpine region and has relatively high rainfall, with heavy rainfall in July and August.[16] The East-West difference is severe, and the rainfall increases from Haegeumgang to Oegeumgang, but due to the phenomenon of Foehn, the rainfall decreases from Naegeumgang to Naegeumgang. It is also warm and humid in preparation for the overall climate in Korea.However, depending on the altitude, cold temperatures of minus 10 to 30 degrees Celsius will continue in the winter, and depending on the region, snow will fall as early as October. These climatic conditions lie at the intersection of the northern and southern plants.[16]

Mount Kumgang from the coast

Starting in 1998, South Korean tourists were allowed to visit Mount Kumgang, initially travelling by cruise ship, and later more commonly by coach. In 2002, the area around the mountain was separated from Kangwŏn Province and organized as a separately-administered Tourist Region. The land route was opened in 2003. A rail link exists on the North Korean side up to the border, but no tracks are laid between Gangneung and the border in South Korea.

In 1998, there were 15,500 tourists in November and December, in 1999 there were 148,000, and in 2000 213,000. In 2001 tourist numbers dropped to 58,000 amidst disagreements over the access over land. As of 2002, almost 500,000 had visited the Mount Kumgang Tourist Region. Tourist numbers have since established themselves at about 240,000 a year. In June 2005, Hyundai Asan announced the one millionth South Korean visit to the area.[17]

The Mount Kumgang Tourist Region is thought to be one way for the North Korean government to receive hard currency from abroad. Therefore, the official currency of the tour is neither the South Korean won nor the North Korean won, but the Chinese RMB and US dollar. Since 2003, food and services to South Korean tourists are provided by some North Koreans. But most of the staff in the hotels are Chinese citizens of Korean heritage with Korean language skills. The area is developed by Hyundai Asan, which plans to expand the site with a proper ski resort to complement the current sleigh course, and complete golf courses. Many plans for expansion, however, are in their earliest stages.

Sea Kumgang

Mount Kumgang

On the morning of July 11, 2008, a 53-year-old South-Korean tourist was shot and killed while walking on the resort's beach. Park Wang-ja entered a military area by crossing over a sand dune and was shot twice by North Korean soldiers. North Korea claimed that sentries had no choice but to shoot her because, despite their order to stop, she fled. South Korea demanded an on-the-spot survey, but North Korea declined it, claiming all the facts were clear and all responsibilities were the victim's and South Korea's. Due to the shooting, South Korea temporarily suspended all trips to Mount Kumgang.[18] In March 2010, the DPRK government warned of "extraordinary measures" if the tourism ban were not lifted.[19] On April 23, 2010, the North Korean government seized 5 properties owned by South Korea at the resort, saying that it was done "in compensation for the damage the North side suffered due to the suspension of the tour for a long period." In seizing the properties, North Korea also alluded to the Baengnyeong incident, showing displeasure with South Korea blaming North Korea for the sinking of the ship.[20] Since April 2010, North Korea is now permitting companies to run tours from the North Korean side,[21] making it appear increasingly unlikely that tours will be resumed from the South. However, on October 1, 2010, news reports said, "Red Cross officials from the two Koreas agreed Friday to hold reunions for families separated by the Korean War amid mixed signals from North Korea on easing tensions over the sinking of a South Korean warship. One hundred families from each country will attend the meetings from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5 at a hotel and reunion center at the North's scenic Diamond Mountain resort, Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo said." As of September 2011 North Korea have begun operating cruises directly from Rason in north-eastern North Korea, to the port in Mount Kumgang, offering visitors the chance to stay in the resorts previously run by the south. Although they are aimed primarily at Chinese guests, western companies are also offering the tours.[22][23]

Koreans have perceived Kŭmgangsan as their muse since well before the Middle Ages.[24] Practically every poet and artist who lived during the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) made a pilgrimage to Kŭmgangsan.[24] The division of the Korean peninsula in 1950 resulted in the South Korean people finding themselves unable to visit this beloved mountain for the better part of 50 years.[25] The 155-mile-long (249 km) barbed-wire fence erected as part of the DMZ (Demilitarized zone) separating the two Koreas proved to be an obstacle stronger than any other barrier.[25]

In 1894 the British writer Isabella Bird Bishop referred to it in her travelogue as "Diamond Mountain".[25]

• Mount Kumgang Tourist Region
• List of Korea-related topics
• List of mountains in Korea
• Geography of North Korea

• Legends of the Kumgang Mountains. Translated by Chol, Su Ryom. Pyongyang: Foreign Languages Publishing House. 1990. OCLC 35310597.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kumgangsan.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Mount Kumgang.

• Kuryong Falls Geumgangsan Kangwon Province DPRK on YouTube
• Mt. Kumgang 100 famous views on YouTube