Which national park was the first designated in South Korea, in 1967?

Jirisan National Park was the first national park designated in South Korea, in 1967.

The park was established on 29 December 1967 and spans parts of Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do. Its mountain landscape includes Jirisan, one of the country’s best-known peaks, and the park remains South Korea’s largest terrestrial national park.

Jirisan is especially important for biodiversity and conservation. It is associated with restoration efforts for the Asiatic black bear, a species that became a major symbol of Korean wildlife protection. A common mix-up is Hallasan National Park: Hallasan is famous for South Korea’s highest mountain, but it was designated later, in 1970. Seoraksan and Bukhansan were also designated after Jirisan.