Hiking Hallasan's Yeongsil Course in Jeju

2017-06-09 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

Maybe because we had hot soup before bed, everyone woke up with puffy faces this morning. There was a bakery right below our hotel, which was great for my family since we usually have bread and coffee for breakfast. We enjoyed it so much that, even though it was our first family breakfast together in years, I didn't take a single photo. After a hearty meal, we cheered on Mrs. Kim (my mom), who was worried about how she'd climb the mountain, and headed to the entrance of the Yeongsil Course on Hallasan (Mt. Halla).

Two information boards for the Yeongsil Trail in Hallasan National Park standing side by side. — Arriving at the Hallasan Yeongsil Course

When planning our Hallasan hike, my biggest worry was the weather. We decided to climb on the earliest day that looked clear, and thankfully, the weather today is fantastic. I'm not sure since when, but it seems the weather agency has actually started doing its job. Or maybe they hired a new shaman.

Back view of hikers walking on a snow-covered mountain trail. — She was so worried, but thankfully she's climbing up just fine.

Hikers climbing snow-covered stairs through bare trees. — The textbook way to use trekking poles.

We climbed for about 30 minutes. On the right, a landscape unfolded that looked exactly like the traditional folding screen we used to have at home. The bizarre rock cliffs are stunning, but the clouds flowing over them are truly impressive. For those quietly reading this at home, let me give you a heads-up: visually, it's a spectacular sight, but aurally, it's a pure mix of cheers and wailing. It's a harmonious blend where heaven and hell open up together, with "Wow~" and "Ugh, I'm dying" coexisting in the same space.

Snow-covered mountain ridge and cloudy sky viewed from halfway up the mountain.

Magnificent snow-covered mountain peaks and cliffs seen through tree branches.

A crow perched on a bare tree branch. — There are an unusually large number of crows on Hallasan.

Mountain peaks seen beyond an information board explaining Yeongsilgiam (unique rocks) and Obaengnahan (stone pillars). — So those bizarre rock cliffs are Yeongsil.

A massive cliff lined with vertically split rocks standing like a folding screen. — When I first saw it, I thought, "Why would they dig up such a beautiful place with an excavator?" but apparently, it formed naturally.

A massive, sheer rock wall rises beyond a mountainside covered in dry grass.

A basalt marker indicating 1500 meters above sea level stands next to a mountain trail overgrown with bamboo grass.

A Hallasan trail information board showing the current location and the course from the Yeongsil Trail entrance to Baengnokdam (crater lake). — We've only come 1.5 km, but one person has already showered in sweat.

A crow perched on a bare tree branch against a backdrop of blue sky and clouds.