Higher Trails in South Korea's National Parks Close From November 15 to December 15 for Wildfire Prevention: 11 Trails Shut in Seoraksan, 13 in Deogyusan and 7 in Sobaeksan, With Fines of up to 500,000 Won for Entry
Higher trails in South Korea's national parks close from November 15 to December 15, 2026, to prevent wildfires, a 31-day closure announced by park offices across the Korea National Park Service at the end of October. The wildfire-caution season began on November 1, and November 14 is the last day to climb Daecheongbong, the summit of Seoraksan.
Seoraksan National Park Office notice No. 2026-47 closes 11 trails in total. Nine close from November 15, including the two standard summit routes, from Osaek and from the Baekdam visitor centre, as well as the Madeungnyeong to Hangyeryeong route over the Dinosaur Ridge; two trails around Gombaeryeong closed from November 1. Valley walks such as Sogongwon to Biseondae and Sogongwon via Sinheungsa temple to Ulsanbawi remain open.
The Deogyusan office announced 11 fully closed trails and 2 partly closed ones; the 0.6 km walk from Seolcheonbong to Hyangjeokbong stays open, so the summit remains reachable. Sobaeksan closes 7 of its 20 trails, 51.58 km of its 101.01 km network. Jirisan, Taebaeksan and Byeonsanbando announced the same closure dates, with Byeonsanbando shutting 5 of its 15 trails.
Entering a closed trail without permission is fined up to 500,000 won under Article 86 of the Natural Parks Act, and smoking or carrying flammables is banned in the parks all year, with fines of up to 2,000,000 won. The park offices publish their closure lists in Korean only and advise hikers to check again before setting out.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：雪岳山国家公园全景（资料图），本次关闭防山火的高山步道包括雪岳山步道。kallerna，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: file photo. Credit: kallerna，CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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