Seoraksan National Park adds traffic controls from 3 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 02:49 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Seoraksan National Park in Sokcho, South Korea, is operating special traffic measures from 3 October to 8 November 2026 as autumn visitors gather around its main entrance. The plan changes how vehicles reach the Sogongwon area, while keeping the mountain destination open for hiking.
Traffic measures run at Seoraksan from 3 October
The measures were announced by Sokcho City on 2 October 2026 and are planned to run mainly at weekends and on public holidays. They cover the Sogongwon access road and nearby parking areas, where vehicles are expected to build up during the autumn foliage season. Sokcho City’s traffic plan names the city, the national park office, police and a local drivers’ association as cooperating bodies.
When the Sogongwon car park or approach road becomes congested, vehicles will be controlled in stages and directed towards free parking areas in districts B and C. Visitors using those areas can continue to the park by free shuttle bus. Electronic boards will provide live traffic and parking information, as well as updates on cable-car operation and waiting times.
Parking changes affect the main Seoraksan approach
The measures concern the approach to Sogongwon, a key access point for the cable car and Sinheungsa Temple. The park office is also providing support vehicles for visitors with mobility needs and accompanying people. Vehicles carrying those visitors, and vehicles serving accommodation in Seorak-dong, can pass during controls after checks at the site.
This arrangement links the traffic plan directly to the way the mountain is visited: parking may move away from the main approach, but the shuttle connection continues towards the area where several of the best-known facilities meet. The practical change for visitors is therefore the arrival route rather than a general closure of the park.
Seoraksan National Park combines forest trails and mountain views
The park lies in Gangwon Province near Sokcho and is associated with autumn hiking through cooler mountain air. The Korea Herald describes the Seorak Hyanggiro trail as a lower route with a skywalk and a suspension bridge, offering a walking option below the higher peaks. A guide to the lower trail also places the route within the wider Sokcho visitor area.
That lower route helps explain the importance of the access plan. The traffic controls are aimed at the Sogongwon approach, while the park offers both more demanding mountain routes and a lower walking option. Visitors can therefore encounter a busy arrival zone even when their intended walk is not a summit ascent.
Visiting Seoraksan National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The special traffic measures run from 3 October to 8 November 2026, mainly at weekends and on public holidays, around the Sogongwon approach.
- When congestion rises, vehicles may be directed to B and C district parking areas, with free shuttle buses continuing to the Seoraksan area.
- Electronic boards provide live traffic and parking information, cable-car operation updates and waiting times. Mobility support vehicles are available for visitors with mobility needs and accompanying people.
- The park is near Sokcho in Gangwon Province. The Seorak Hyanggiro trail includes a skywalk and a suspension bridge, while the wider area also provides access to the cable car and Sinheungsa Temple.
- South Korea's official language is Korean and its national currency is the won.
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Frequently asked questions about Seoraksan National Park
When do the special traffic measures take place at Seoraksan National Park?
They run from 3 October to 8 November 2026, mainly at weekends and on public holidays.
How will the traffic plan affect access to Seoraksan National Park?
Vehicles may be controlled near Sogongwon and directed to B and C district parking areas. Free shuttle buses connect those areas with the park.
Where is Seoraksan National Park and how do you get there?
It is near Sokcho in Gangwon Province, South Korea. During the measures, visitors can use the designated B and C district parking areas and continue by shuttle bus when directed.
