Seoraksan National Park adds Heullimgol reservations from October

Seoraksan National Park will resume reservations for the Heullimgol trail on 1 October 2026, changing access during the autumn period at the protected mountain landscape known locally as ???????. The Korea National Park Service notice covers the route in Sokcho and the wider Seoraksan area of South Korea until 30 November 2026.

Heullimgol reservations return on 1 October 2026

The reservation period runs from 1 October to 30 November 2026. It applies to the 3.1-kilometre section between Heullimgol Visitor Centre and Yongso Junction, as stated in the official Heullimgol operating notice.

The notice sets a daily capacity of 5,000 visitors. It also says that reservations are made online through the national park reservation system and that the autumn operating period is part of a revised schedule issued by the Seoraksan National Park Office. From 2027, the notice says, the reservation system will operate only during October and November.

This is a direct access change for travellers planning an autumn walk. The reservation requirement starts on 1 October 2026, after the non-reservation period ending on 30 September 2026, so a visit planned around the seasonal change needs the correct access arrangement.

How the Heullimgol route fits Seoraksan National Park

The reservation section is one route within a much larger protected area. The Korea National Park Service profile says the park was designated South Korea’s fifth national park in 1970. It was also designated a natural monument area in 1965 and became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1982.

The park covers 400.027 square kilometres across Sokcho, Yangyang, Inje and Goseong. Its eastern section includes the Sokcho side of the mountain, while the wider landscape is divided into Outer Seorak, Inner Seorak and South Seorak. Daecheongbong, the main summit, rises to 1,708 metres, and the park contains more than 30 prominent peaks.

That scale gives the Heullimgol change a specific practical meaning. The new requirement does not describe a general closure of Seoraksan National Park; it concerns a named route and a defined section during a defined two-month period. The reservation dates therefore matter most to visitors whose itinerary includes Heullimgol rather than the park as a whole.

Autumn access changes at Seoraksan National Park

The revised arrangement is linked by the operator to safe use of the Heullimgol trail and the conservation of the national park ecosystem. The official notice identifies the Seoraksan National Park Office as the issuing body and gives the reservation route as an online process.

For visitors from Western Europe, the most important distinction is between the park and the route. Seoraksan National Park extends across several administrative areas, but the reservation change names Heullimgol Visitor Centre and Yongso Junction. Other routes should not be assumed to follow the same reservation conditions.

Visiting Seoraksan National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Heullimgol reservation period runs from 1 October to 30 November 2026, covering the section from Heullimgol Visitor Centre to Yongso Junction.
• Access to that 3.1-kilometre section is subject to online reservation during the period, with a daily capacity of 5,000 visitors.
• The park extends across Sokcho, Yangyang, Inje and Goseong in South Korea. Sokcho is the relevant coastal city for the eastern, Outer Seorak side.
• The terrain is mountainous, and the wider park includes high peaks such as 1,708-metre Daecheongbong. Visitors should select routes according to their fitness and experience.
• The official language is Korean and the national currency is the South Korean won.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Seoraksan National Park

When does the Heullimgol reservation period take place?

It runs from 1 October to 30 November 2026. The reservation applies to the named 3.1-kilometre section.

What is Seoraksan National Park?

It is South Korea’s fifth national park, designated in 1970, and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1982.

Where is Seoraksan National Park and how do you get there?

The park spans Sokcho, Yangyang, Inje and Goseong in South Korea. Sokcho is the main city associated with its eastern side.