Songnisan National Park

Songnisan National Park (Korean: 속리산국립공원, 俗離山國立公園, sometimes spelled "Sokrisan"[2]) is located in the center of the Sobaek Mountains range, on the border between the provinces of Chungcheongbuk-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. The area comprises the valleys of Hwayang, Seonyu, and Ssanggok and the 1,058-metre (3,471 ft) mountain Songnisan, which has given the park its name.[3] It was designated as the country's sixth national park in 1970.[1] The park's most popular attraction is one of Korea's largest temples,[3] the Buddhist temple Beopjusa,[2] initially constructed in 653.

속리산국립공원, 俗離山國立公園
Songnisan National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Gwaneum Peak at Songnisan
Coordinates	36°32′N 127°54′E
Area	274.54 km2 (106.00 sq mi)[1]
Established	24 March 1970
Governing body	Korea National Park Service

Bukhansan

Byeonsan-bando

Chiaksan

Dadohaehaesang

Deogyusan

Gayasan

Gyeongju

Gyeryongsan

Hallasan

Hallyeohaesang

Jirisan

Juwangsan

Naejangsan

Odaesan

Seoraksan

Sobaeksan

Songnisan

Taeanhaean

Wolchulsan

Mudeungsan

Woraksan

Taebaeksan

The twenty-two national parks of South Korea.
Land-based parks are in red and marine parks are in blue.

Songnisan (the Korean letters spell out "Sokrisan" but the name is actually pronounced "Songnisan") became a national park in 1970. It is the sixth-largest of Korea’s mountain parks with an area of 275 km². The name means “Remote from the Ordinary World”—a reference to its somewhat isolated position in the very center of South Korea. The mountains belong to the southern arm of the greater Sobaek Range, and the park lies on the border between North Chungcheong and North Gyeongsong Provinces.

In 1999, someone decided to cash in on the name of a famous set of mountains in Europe by dubbing the ridge that connects Gubyeongsan, Songnisan, Gwaneumbong and Sanhakbong the Chungbuk Alps. The name is a little misleading, as the highest mountain here is only a humble 1,058 meters. On the English brochure available at the tourist center in the Songni-dong Bus Terminal building, it states: “A hiking path was opened and transformed into a commercial product.” This perhaps says something about how Koreans view their mountains and is a hint that hiking here might not always be peaceful and relaxing. The park gets about 1.5 million visitors a year.

Songnisan is very scenic. On wet days clouds often catch in the valleys between the mountains, creating a dramatic layered effect. In the spring, the area is known for the brilliant pink azaleas that bloom on the mountainsides. The mountains have a craggy look, with many interesting granite outcroppings and cliffs.

Songnisan National Park was designated as the sixth national park in Korea in 1970 and was called “Second Geumgang” or “Sogeumgang (Small Geumgang)” because of its spectacular beauty. This rocky mountain is located across many areas in Chungbuk and Gyeongbuk provinces and spans across a total area of 274.541 km². The main peaks Cheonwangbong, Birobong, and Munjangdae are connected along the baekdudaegan mountain ranges (Backbone of Korea) with well developed stone peaks and ridges. Songnisan is connected to other adjacent mountains, and based around Cheonwangbong (1,058 m) in the south, eight peaks are stretched out like a bow including Birobong, Munjangdae, and Gwaneumbong.

Songnisan has natural treasures such as the Jeongipumsong (a pine tree that, in Korean legend, was awarded the rank of minister by King Sejo),[4] otter, flying squirrel, and mandarin duck. In addition, there are many bird species that are designated for the purpose of protection by the Ministry of Environment as well as endangered animals such as the small-eared cat and marten. Moreover, a variety of native fish species live in the streams flowing into Geumgang, Nakdonggang, and Hangang.