Sanmasil🙇 Hiking Etiquette in Korea — What Locals Expect
Greetings, closed trails, national park rules and other things to know before hiking in Korea.
Hiking is one of Korea’s most popular hobbies, so trails can be busy, especially on autumn weekends. A few customs will make your hike smoother.
On the trail
- A short greeting (“annyeonghaseyo”) to people you pass is common and appreciated.
- Walk on the right and let faster hikers pass. Uphill hikers have the right of way on narrow sections.
- Don’t play music from a speaker.
Rules in national parks
- No cooking, smoking or alcohol. Fines apply.
- Stay on open trails — many routes are closed seasonally (spring and autumn fire-prevention periods) or for nature protection.
- Some trails close in the afternoon: you may not be allowed to start a long climb after 2–3 pm.
- Take all trash home — there are few bins on mountains.
Safety
- Emergency number: 119. Many trails have numbered emergency signposts — tell 119 the number on the nearest post.
- Check the mountain weather forecast (Korea Meteorological Administration) and be down before dark.