What is the highest mountain in South Korea?

Hallasan is the highest mountain in South Korea. This shield volcano rises to 1,950 metres on Jeju Island, making it the country’s highest natural point and one of its most recognizable landscapes.

Hallasan formed through repeated volcanic activity during the Cenozoic Era. Its broad, gently sloping profile differs from the sharp, heavily folded appearance of many continental mountain ranges. At the summit is Baengnokdam, a crater lake whose name means “white deer lake.” The mountain’s basaltic geology also helped create Jeju’s distinctive lava formations and underground tubes.

Hallasan National Park surrounds the mountain and protects a succession of ecosystems, from subtropical vegetation near the coast to alpine plants around the summit. The park was established in 1970, and Jeju’s volcanic landscape later received UNESCO recognition. Visitors sometimes confuse Hallasan with Bukhansan, a famous mountain near Seoul, or Seoraksan, a celebrated peak in the northeast. Both are important Korean mountains, but neither is as high as Hallasan. Weather can change quickly near the summit, so access and trail conditions may vary by season.