The Magnificence of the Outdoors: Hiking Trails Across Seoraksan, Gangwon, South Korea

[@대추-h1u]

this is very superb view

[@thelastofthegeojites]

It was fantastic and also a lovely hike, though my knees were killing me at the end!😅

[@LivingMonstrosityUK]

Beautiful video! I spent a few days in Sokcho and did a few hikes around Seoraksan in October, the scenery with the leaves changing was amazing ❤

[@CaballerodeLemuria]

That must have been quite an experience.

[@thelastofthegeojites]

Oh boy! That sounds amazing. I only got to see the tail end of autumn there but if I ever get the chance again ill come a few weeks beforehand to see what all the talk is about. 😢

[@BeritaSemeru123]

Pemandangan yg sangat inda dan bagus sekali salam persahabatan kawan semoga sukses selalu

[@thelastofthegeojites]

Ini adalah tempat yang indah untuk pergi hiking dan saya akan sangat merekomendasikannya! Terima kasih telah menonton.

[@CaballerodeLemuria]

😃😃😃😃Thanks for the pictures. That's sublime

[@thelastofthegeojites]

You are welcome!! It was a great hike to do, glad I got it done before the winter came!

[@jamcloudberry9390]

Fantastic shots and footage! This is pushing me to finally get Seoraksan off my bucketlist lol

[@thelastofthegeojites]

Go for it! You will definitely wont regret it. Though my legs tell a different story.

[@jsh-k1n]

Wow~! Great ~!! You are the real mountaineer!! Good luck and enjoy another Korean mountains ~haha~

[@thelastofthegeojites]

Thanks for watching! Hopefully someday ill make it back.

[@total9090]

I love the calming vibes. Great video!

[@thelastofthegeojites]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@KlynKankarn]

Wow amazing

[@thelastofthegeojites]

@@KlynKankarn thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@unisong7105]

amazing

[@KimHaha1234]

날씨가 너무 좋네요 푸른하늘..! 좋은영상 감사합니다

[@thelastofthegeojites]

Yes! It was a very beautiful day. Glad you enjoyed the video!!

[@Aventador83]

Insane...the way you made your video is very nice. May we know what kind of camera you use ? Thanks to wrote the trail you chose in the description, it is really helpfull.

[@thelastofthegeojites]

Thanks for the comment 👍 yes, the camera I used was a Panasonic Lumix G80/85 that has 4k capabilities. The camera is designated with different model numbers in different countries. But its one of those!! Cheaper then most 4k cameras at the time, back in 2017. So if you could find one now used or new I would think its reasonably priced. I also used a DJI Mavic Pro drone that is probably one of my favorite things in the world! Many trails to hike on Seoraksan so choose carefully. 😁

[@francismiryo4075]

@@thelastofthegeojites Perfect, thanks for the advices and informations. I hope you will have time to continue your videos in the following weeks. Have a great day !

[@논산딸기-j5l]

당신을 지켜봐왔고 격려합니다. goodman~!

[@thelastofthegeojites]

Thanks for the encouragement!!

[@RaidsTravel]

How did you fly the drone on seoraksan. Should we have to get permission to fly drone dji mini?

[@hikesome]

That's a beautiful video of your adventure! The intro shots are incredible just as the whole scenery. That's exactly the content I am looking for and like to create myself. Nice to see what the trails of Korea have to offer. I am definitely following you for more. Best wishes & Happy trails, Mario

[@thelastofthegeojites]

Awe thanks Mario! Im glad you found something to your taste and liking. To be honest it has taken a lot of trial and error to get these videos up to par with what I was looking for so I really appreciate your comment and thanks for the follow, it means alot. I'll definitely check out what you have! If you ever get a chance to hike South Korea, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Its 70% mountains and trails!

[@RootCanalPro]

Cool❤

[@thelastofthegeojites]

Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@emilychapman7407]

Hi! Is running shoes ok for hiking in Seoraksan? I plan to hike Seoraksan this November but not the most advanced trail, just the beginner one. I wonder if wearing running shoes is enough so I don't have to bring two shoes. Thanks! Great video anyway. Loving the autumn scenery so much!

[@thelastofthegeojites]

Hi! In my personal opinion I wore trail running shoes that had thick tread on them, so that was very helpful. I think you might have difficulty with it if your tread is not adequate enough for the terrain. The terrain can be jagged and rocky with loose gravel, basically running the gamut when it comes to hiking in Seoraksan. Its best to be prepared for it fully especially when coming down the mountain, that would be my concern. Hope that helps.

[@JUANORQUIO]

W❤️W! Awesome! Cheers for more exciting and breathtaking hiking adventures! 🥂❤️✨

[@thelastofthegeojites]

Thanks Juan for the encouragement!

[@mrmarzo]

Mind blowing beautiful. Amazing job putting this video together.

[@thelastofthegeojites]

Thanks @mrmarzo! It was a grueling day but definitely paid off in the end with the footage I got. And the people hiking were so nice an helpful as well!

[@mrmarzo]

@@thelastofthegeojites Which mountains are a must for avid hikers and backpackers? It seems Hallasan, Jirisan, Seoraksan and Bukhansan are the main ones. Would you say that's about right? I'm sure I'm missing some. Btw, I can't believe you don't have thousands of followers. The quality you put into your videos are top notch. Hopefully youtube's algorithms pick up your channel soon.

[@thelastofthegeojites]

@@mrmarzo I would say that is a loaded question! 80% of the landscape in South Korea is mountainous. But that being said, Hallasan, Seoraksan and Jirisan are the ones I would check off the list as they are the 3 largest mountains. Hallasan can be quite lush, has only two trails, a beautiful valley, and is/was a dorment volcano. It's also heavily taken care of off and on season. Seoraksan is immense with too many trails to take and is somewhere where you can get lost in nature. It also was the most grueling for me, it follows a river depending on the trail you take and just never ends. Jirisan is also full of trails and quite arduous hike/climb. I would also recommend Wolchulsan, because it has these very large mountain peaks that look like sharp teeth, plus its a mountain that juts up in the middle of nowhere and is surrounded by flat land which is quite unique. Ill give it a good think and see if I can make a list of must-see mountains that I've actually climbed. Yeah, could be user error on the KZbin algorithm, perhaps I'm doing something wrong in terms of tagging the videos, titling them or my overall post rate. Not sure but I definitely like to post but not unless its quality work, so thanks for noticing that. Makes me want to work harder at it and post more! Thanks again!

[@mrmarzo]

@@thelastofthegeojites Thank you for all the valuable insights. Looking forward to your future videos.

[@pnzqrc]

This is sooo good! This video reminds me "Kraig Adams" who trekking and taking video of nature! Thanks for amazing video :)

[@thelastofthegeojites]

Thank You! So funny you should say that, it must have been in the ether around the same time for many to start making hiking videos of themselves. Kraig Adams is inspirational in that sense with his calm and collective sense of editing and I definitely coincide with the way he makes his videos. Just want everyone to relax and have a peaceful hike, even when they can't access it.

[@kychoi5590]

설악산은 어느 코스든 사계절 진짜 다 멋있어요~ 기회가되면 한번씩 가보세요~ 저도 1년에 한두번씩 설악산을 찾을정도로 제가 우리나라에서 가장 좋아하고 멋지다고 생각하는 산이에요

[@thelastofthegeojites]

Agreed! Beautiful all year round! I have done it in winter, fall and summer. I think that's enough haha. But I would love to do it all over again.

[@themermaiddiaryph]

So beautiful! Makes me want to try on my korea trip this september. Is this the intermediate hike? Or the advanced?

[@thelastofthegeojites]

Yes! Its gorgeous all year round in my opinion. I would say its intermediate but the length is what really tests you especially if you are doing it round-trip in a day. Just remember to be prepared and bring plenty of food and water accompanied with the proper footwear and clothing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. It does not disappoint!

[@themermaiddiaryph]

@@thelastofthegeojites thank you so much for the response. Can’t wait for my trip!

[@pusatravels7945]

Hi! May I know if u need to ask permission to fly a drone there?

[@thelastofthegeojites]

Hi, sorry for the late reply. As far as I know as long as you are out of the way of other people and flying responsibly you can get away with it. I think the Korean government and Koreans in general are a bit more relaxed about it but that being said its always good to see, due to seoraksan being one of the major national parks, if it is indeed legal to do so. I was able to find a quiet place away from people whenever I did it so best to wait till the coast is clear. 😅

[@cascadian4250]

@@thelastofthegeojites I did some digging, and no. You're not allowed to fly drones without special permits. Granted, I didn't find much info when I searched in English. So maybe you just didn't see it. But in general, regardless of the legal status, you should refrain from flying drones in national parks of all places. Drones are loud and typically audible from far beyond where you can see them. That recognizable high-pitch whine ruins the peace of nature like no other sound can. Seoraksan is one of the most popular national parks in Korea and it's pretty impossible to be sufficiently far from a trail. So yea, you definitely broke the local regulation and frustrated the shit out of some people. Please be a responsible traveler. When in doubt, just assume that you're not allowed to fly drones in national parks, wilderness areas, and other similar settings.

[@thelastofthegeojites]

@@cascadian4250 Thank you for providing clarity on the current regulations regarding drone permits in South Korean national parks. As a foreigner, navigating the correct procedures without the necessary channels or documents can be challenging. If you could share the appropriate information, it would be greatly appreciated. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused fellow travelers and for neglecting our responsibilities. The regulations during the period when the footage was captured, from 2016 to 2019, were notably less stringent, if not entirely absent. Drones were a burgeoning technology during that time, lacking the scrutiny they receive today. Having extensively traveled and experienced drone technology in South Korea, I can assure you that respecting nature and its inhabitants has always been a top priority. Thank you once again for your input, and I will ensure to guide others towards the proper approach in the future, whether in English or not. To provide further context, as of the last update in January 2022, the regulations regarding drone usage in South Korea are as follows: 1. **Registration**: All drones weighing 250 grams or more must be registered with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT) before operation. 2. **Flight Restrictions**: Drones are prohibited from flying within 5 kilometers of airports and heliports, as well as in restricted military zones and certain urban areas. They must maintain a distance of at least 30 meters from people, vehicles, vessels, and buildings, and should not be flown higher than 150 meters above ground level. 3. **No-fly Zones**: Certain areas, such as national parks, government buildings, and cultural heritage sites, are designated as no-fly zones for drones. 4. **Permissions**: Special permissions may be required for commercial drone operations or for flying drones at night. 5. **Remote ID Requirement**: Drones must be equipped with a remote identification system approved by the Korean government to ensure accountability and safety. These regulations are subject to change, so it's essential to check the latest updates from official sources such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT) or the Korea Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) before flying a drone in South Korea.

[@Mr_Busted]

Oh my 🎉

[@AK-jq7tf]

Seoraksan Mountain in South Korea is designated as a national park. Drones are prohibited from flying in national parks in South Korea. The national park does not grant permission. I'm worried that your video will encourage other foreigners to fly drones recklessly. Koreans also want to drone over Seoraksan Mountain, but they can't because the National Park Service won't give them permission.

[@thelastofthegeojites]

@@AK-jq7tf You are absolutely right, I can see how this could encourage people to fly a drone. My apologies if that is the case. This video is not for encouragement to break the rules but to influence like-minded hikers to explore the beauty of South Korea. Its a testament to the beauty of its people, culture and natural landscape. I want nothing more but to promote healthy living while seeing amazing places.