The 33 Most Sacred Korean Mountains
These 33 mountains are the ones I have judged to be Korea's holiest, by the criteria explained on this  and
my 20 years of visiting them and studying this subject.  They break down in a convenient and balanced
split between 17 in the central and western regions and 16 in the eastern regions (mostly, the 20 years of
visiting them and studying this subject.  They break down in a convenient and Taebaek Range and its
southern extention now dubbed the "Yeongnam Alps", going as far west in the southern region as the
Nakdong River.  They are listed here North-to-South.  Only six mountains from the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (North Korea) are listed, due to our lack of information about historical and current
mountain-worship traditions there; those six are labled "DPRK".  Click on the name to see my photos and
discussion of that mountain and its San-shin shrines.

* means it could be one of Korea's Nine Greatest Sacred Mountains,
in other words the very best out of these 33.
Central & Western Korean
Peninsula (17):

*Myohyang-san    묘향산
DPRK, Pyeongan Province, National Park,  1355m

Guwol-san     구월산
DPRK, Pyeongan Province, National Park,  ???m

Song-ak-san     송악산
DPRK, Gyeonggi Prov, Gaeseong City Park?  ???m

Ma-ni-san    마니산
Ganghwa Island of Incheon City, County Park,  469m

*Samgak-san    삼각산
Seoul City, in the Bukhan-san National Park,  840m

*Inwang-san     인왕산
Seoul City, Local Park,  388m

Gwanak-san     관악산
Seoul City & Gwacheon City, Local Park  629m

Chiak-san      치악산
Gangwon Prov, Wonju City, National Park,  1288m

Sogni-san      속리산
North Chungcheong Prov, National Park,  1058m

*Gyeryong-san    계룡산
Daejeon & Gongju Cities, National Park,  845m

Gaya-san      가야산
South Gyeongsang Province, Hapcheon County,
National Park,  1430m

Ma-i-san      마이산
North Jeolla Province, Jinan County,
Provincial Park,   618m

Moak-san    모악산
North Jeolla Province, south of Jeonju City,
Provincial Park,  794m

*Jiri-san     지리산
Gurye County of South Jeolla Province;  Hadong,
Sancheong and Hamyang Counties of South
Gyeongsang Province; and Namwon City of North
Jeolla Province;    National Park,  Cheonhwang-bong
1915m,  Banya-bong 1733m & Nogo-dan 1507m

Mudeung-san    무등산
Gwangju City,  Provincial Park,  1187m

Geum-san      금산
SW South Gyeongsang Province, Namhae-do Island,
in Hallyeo Oceanic National Park,  701m

*Halla-san    한라산
Jeju-do Province & Island, National Park, 1950m
In the Taebaek Range /
Eastern Korea (16):

*Baekdu-san   백두산
DPRK and China border, National Park, 2850m

Chilbo-san    칠보산
DPRK Hamgyeong Province, National Park, 888m

*Geumgang-san  금강산
DPRK Gangwon Province, National Park, 1908m   
Famous as the "Diamond Mountains"

Nak-san        낙산
Gangwon Province, Yangyang County,
Provincial Park, 108m

*Odae-san      오대산
Pyeongchang County & Gangneung City,
National Park,  1563m

*Taebaek-san   태백산
Gangwon Province, Taebaek City,
Provincial Park,  1567m
(including Hambaek-san of Taebaek-shi, and Cheong-ok-san,
Guryong-san and Eungbong-san of Bonghwa & Uljin Counties)

Sobaek-san   소백산
Yeongju City, National Park,  1439m    
(with Seondal-san 1236m)

Il-wol-san     일월산
Yeongyang County, County Park,  1219m

Juwang-san   주왕산
Cheongsong County, National Park,  721m

Palgong-san    팔공산
Daegu City, Provincial Park,  1187m

*Toham-san      토함산
Gyeongju City, National Park,  745m

*Gyeongju's Nam-san  경주남산
(aka Geum-o-san)
Gyeongju City, National Park,  466m

*Danseok-san    단석산
Gyeongju City, National Park,  827m

Gaji-san     가지산
Ulsan City, Provincial Park, 1240m
(including Unmun-san in Cheongdo & Miryang Counties)

Chuiseo-san     취서산
South Gyeongsang Province, Yangsan City,
part of Gaji-san Provincial Park,  1081m

*Geumjeong-san  금정산
Busan City, City Parks, 802m
(including Sanggye-bong, Sanghak-san, Baekyang-san,
Eumgwang-san, Gubong-san and Yongdu-san)
New!   Baekdu-daegan Trail Guidebook
"Hiking Korea’s Mountain Spine"
By Roger Shepherd and Andrew Douch,  with David A. Mason
is finally available for hikers and cultural-explorers!

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