Unlike the super snowy white winter we had in Korea this year, in 2020 we barely touched a single snowflake here in Seoul. It was already February and I perfectly recalled that there was no sign of heavy snowfall stomping its feet in. That prompted me to relentlessly scroll down on the list of the #겨울여행, meaning winter trip in Korean, on Instagram to see what Korean goers were up to that winter.
And it was a breathtaking scenery of Deogyusan (덕유산) blanketed in white powdery snow that struck me to my core. That is it! This is the place I impulsively decided to visit that very weekend.
Deogyusan is the key mountain of Deogyusan National Park located in Muju County, Jeollabuk-do. If the traffic flows, it takes roughly 3 hours to drive from Seoul to the main parking lot of a ski resort. That is right! Just right down at the foot of the mountain, it is where Muju Deogyusan Resort is situated. It is the only ski resort ever located in a national park. This could make the winter trip to Muju much more terrific for a couple or a group of family with different interests.
There are at least five beautiful peaks awaiting for every keen hiker to conquer. However, the most convenient way of reaching the top of the mountain is to take the Gondola cable car at the Deogyusan ski resort. A long gondola lift will bring you to the Seolcheon-bong, one of the peaks within the National Park where a gigantic octagonal pavilion is established as a rest stop.
From Seolcheonbong Peak you can reach Hyangjeonbong Peak which is the summit of Deogyusan Mountain by taking the small route placed around 200 meter far from the pavilion (or just simply follow the crowd of energetic Korean hikers there). I must say taking this specific road was the most time-consuming hiking experience I have ever done.
It’s not because the route was rough or anything (intermediate level of steepness and slipperiness in my opinion) but it was that I got distracted the entire time we were descending down and ascending up the road. So, in conclusion, even though I am not much of a hiker but with these views as rewards I could be one for a day!
Gallery: Shots Taken from Muju Deogyusan in Winter
More info about Muju Deogyusan Resort Address: 185, Manseon-ro, Seolcheon-myeon, Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do Telephone: +82-63-322-9000 Website: https://www.mdysresort.com/index.asp (Korean) Naver map: http://naver.me/Fbo5X6Tf (전북 무주군 설천면 만선로 185)
How to get to Muju Deogyusan Resort from Seoul via public transport (Approx. 4hr)
⇒Take Seoul Subway line 3 and get off at Nambu Bus Terminal Station (남부터미널역)
⇒Get out of exit 5 to take an intercity bus at Seoul Nambu Terminal (서울남부터미널)
⇒Purchase a bus ticket to Muju Bus Terminal (무주공용버스터미널): 15,200KW
⇒At Muju Bus Terminal, take a taxi to Deogyusan Resort (무주덕유산리조트): Approx. 22,500KW
Access Map
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