Hwangjangsan 1,079m

Why it is one of the 100 famous mountains

Selected for its scenic and forestry-cultural value, as its dense forests harmonize beautifully with rock cliffs, it is famous for hwangjangmok pines, and it preserves a Joseon Dynasty Bongsan marker stone. It is recorded as Jakseongsan in Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam, Daedong Jiji, and Yecheon-gun Eupji.

About Hwangjangsan

Named Hwangjangsan because of its abundance of hwangjangmok (fine-grained red pine with yellowish heartwood). Resin permeates inward to give the heartwood of hwangjangmok its yellow hue. These trees were strictly managed by the state during the Joseon Dynasty, as evidenced by the Hwangjang Geumpyo (prohibition stone marker) located at Myeongjeon-ri on the northern foot of the mountain.

The mountain lies on the main ridgeline of the Baekdudaegan. While its overall appearance is not extraordinarily striking, rocky features are scattered throughout its ridges. These include Bebawi Rock, Metdeungbawi Rock, Tugubong Peak, Gamtubong Peak, Suribong Peak, and Chimabawi Rock, with Suribong Peak featuring a long rocky ridge. Although it is a solitary mountain stretching east to west, it possesses great valleys such as Munangol, Umanggol, and Toshigol. In particular, Munangol has an abundant volume of water and a broad flat rock of about 165 square meters. Along with the northern Danyangcheon stream basin—home to Sangseonam, Jungseonam, and Haseonam rocks—it forms the eastern edge of Woraksan National Park.

It is also called Jakseongsan because of Jakseong Fortress. This valley-encircling mountain fortress retains its fortress gate relatively well, which gave the valley its name Munangol (meaning 'inside the gate'). During the Three Kingdoms period, this mountain served as the border between Goguryeo and Silla, and Dongno-myeon, which embraces the mountain entirely, was called Jakseong-hyeon until the Goryeo Dynasty.

Soaring high as a backbone of the Baekdudaegan, this mountain has had several names. It has been recorded as Hwangjeongsan, Jakseongsan, or Hwangjangbongsan, but it is generally called Hwangjangsan due to the abundance of hwangjangmok.

A variety of Korean red pine, hwangjangmok is resistant to cracking and hard, making it a precious wood often used to build royal coffins and palaces. For this reason, in 1680 during the reign of King Sukjong of the Joseon Dynasty, a Bongsan marker prohibiting logging and land clearing on this mountain was erected downstream of Beolcheon Valley in Myeongjeon-ri, Dongno-myeon. In addition, deep in Munangol Valley stands Jakseongsanseong Fortress with its imposing stone gate, presumed to date back to the Goguryeo period based on its construction style. Geumcheon Stream at the foot of the mountain is home to first-grade water fish such as Korean minnow.

Public transport

Starting Point: Jeomchon

Jeomchon Intercity Bus Terminal → Dongno: Operates 10 times a day

Dongno → Saengdal: Operates 4 times a day