Where to Go Rock Climbing and Bouldering in Korea

It is not surprising that Korea has numerous rock climbing locations, considering the Korean peninsula is covered with mountain ranges. You can easily get to a crag within an hour from the center of Seoul. It is surprising, however, that Korea is not a well-known destination for rock climbing enthusiasts around the world. Maybe rock climbing in Korea needs a bit of PR. Whether you’re an avid rock climber or a complete newbie who wants to get into the latest exercise trend, this article will briefly give you an overview of where to go rock climbing and bouldering in Korea. 

1. The Mountains: for free!

Korea is surrounded by mountains. But there’s so much information not readily available at the Korea Tourist Information Center nor anywhere online that’s regularly updated in English. Most climbers have their community, and on weekends, they go to the crags with their 대장 (captain) leading the way. 

Located at Bukhan Mountain, Insubong is famous for its slabby trad climbing. Just outside of Seoul, there is Samsung Mountain in Anyang for its, again, slabby lead climbing. And a bit further outside of Seoul, there is granite rock at Jobi Mountain in Yongin, Ganhyun in Wonju, Chunkeul Ridge in Chuncheon, and so much more. Lucky for you, Dong-il Ryou has written a guidebook of 156 crags in Korea, with detailed GPS coordinates, maps, route information, and the whole nine yards -- all in English. However, it was published in 2012, so some of the information may be outdated.

The next best thing to do is conduct a Naver search of where you want to go. Koreans love blogging, so if you need up-to-date information about the best crags and their current conditions, search Naver, and use google translate. You can search 클라이밍 or the Korean words 자연등반 (nature climb) or 암벽등반 (rock climb).

2. Outdoor Artificial Lead Walls: for almost free!

Every expat is always amazed upon their discovery of these artificial walls sprinkled around the city. Why would the government provide these walls for pretty much nothing? My guess is that the mountaineering/alpine clubs in Korea are quite powerful, physically as well as politically. Old people in Korea love their mountains. You can see large groups of older Koreans in their neon-colored, brand-named hiking gear on their way to some mountain every weekend. Among these myriads of mountaineering clubs are rock-climbing fanatics. So it is also common to see more older Koreans at these outdoor artificial walls compared to the younger crowd. Be friendly and say hello if you often see the same faces. These older Korean climbers love to give climbing beta and sometimes even food! 

Free outdoor artificial walls are open from late Spring till early Fall and are located at Ttukseom Han River Park, Eunbong San, and Dangogae for those north of the Han River. Larger outdoor artificial walls with better facilities but a 2,000 to 4,000 won entry fee (payable only by credit or debit card) are located throughout Seoul. Some fun ones are located at Yeongdeungpo-gu and Yongma Mountain. There are dozens more throughout Korea, but the information is not regularly updated online, so you may have to rely on word-of-mouth or Naver searches. In the meantime, try searching 인공암벽장 on Kakao Map for the nearest location. 

3. Indoor Rock Climbing Gyms: expensive!

While nature and the outdoors allow climbers to enjoy their adrenaline rush for free, indoor gyms are costly. But it should be understood that real estate in Korea is extremely expensive. So anything that requires a building will cost the consumers a bit of money. Therefore, the average monthly rock climbing gym membership is about 130,000 won for a small space and too many people. But for those who need to practice endurance training and maintain grip strength until the warm weather allows you to frolic outdoors again, ask your local bouldering gym about cheaper membership deals.    

Climb Square is the largest indoor lead climbing gym with auto belays and a large bouldering area, located in Incheon. Apart from this being the sole lead climbing gym, bouldering gyms are scattered throughout Seoul, usually located in the basement of a building. Many gyms have popped up and shut down through recent years, so it is best to search “클라이밍” or “Climbing” on your Kakao Map to find a bouldering gym near you. 

Some tips about saving money when it comes to indoor rock climbing gym memberships: 

1. The longer your membership, the more money you save. One month could cost 130,000 won, but one year may cost 1,000,000 won—a 560,000 won savings. 

2. Ask about deals and discounts. For instance, The Climbing Gym at Gyodae offers a 10% couples discount. The Climbing Park located at Sinnonhyeon offers 100,000 won monthly membership (original 130,000 won) as long as you only come during non-peak hours: between Mondays and Fridays from 7 am to 5 pm. 

3. You can also buy packets of day passes valid for six months at about 17,000 won per day. 

4. I Am a Complete Newb to Climbing

If you are a total beginner and strongly desire to scale walls, your best bet is to get lessons at your local bouldering gym. Climbing is relatively safe but extremely dangerous for those who don’t know what they’re doing. Getting basic lessons from a proper teacher is always recommended to ensure that you learn the fundamental rules and safety precautions. Most climbing gyms do not have a teacher proficient in English but ask anyway. Maybe this is your chance to start improving your Korean skills.

There are also hobby apps in Korea that young people use to learn a new skill, take classes, or make friends. Download Frip and search “climbing” to find lessons for as low as 15,000 won. Download Somoim and search “climbing” for local climbing groups. You may not have as much luck with English meetup.com or Facebook groups. But those are worth a shot too! Just remember always to practice safe climbing and find trustworthy climbing partners.