The national parks of South Korea are preserved parcels of public land

Public land

In all modern states, some land is held by central or local governments. This is called public land. The system of tenure of public land, and the terminology used, varies between countries...

 in South Korea

South Korea

The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...

, on which most forms of development are prohibited. They cover a total of 3.7% of the country's area, and are typically located in mountainous or coastal regions. The country's largest mountain park is Jirisan National Park

Jirisan National Park

Jirisan National Park is a national park in South Korea, located on the boundaries of Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do. Jirisan was the first park to be designated as a national park in South Korea, in 1967...

 in the southwest; this was also the first national park to be designated, in 1967. The largest marine park is Dadohaehaesang

Dadohaehaesang National Park

Dadohaehaesang National Park was designated in 1981 as the largest national park in South Korea. The total area is with being marine area and being land area. Main attractions of Dadohaehaesang National Park are Hongdo , Heuksando and Baekdo...

; it has an area of more than 2200 km² (849.4 sq mi), but almost all of this is water. The smallest park is Wolchulsan

Wolchulsan National Park

Wolchulsan National Park lies in Jeollanam-do province, South Korea. Designated as a national park in 1988, Wolchulsan National Park is South Korea's smallest at only ....

, with an area of only 56.1 km² (21.7 sq mi).

There are currently 20 national parks in South Korea; the parks, with the exception of Hallasan National Park

Hallasan National Park

Hallasan National Park is located in the province of Jeju-do, South Korea. It was designated as the 9th national park in 1970. It features the highest mountain in South Korea, the shield volcano Hallasan on Jeju Island. It was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2002, and a World Heritage...

, are managed by the Korea National Parks Service, established in 1987. The Authority operates its own police force, and since 1998 has been under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment. It was previously under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Construction.

List of national parks of South Korea

Name (English, hangul Hangul Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean... , hanja Hanja Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation... )	Photo	Location	Designated	Area	Land type
Bukhansan Bukhansan National Park The Bukhansan National Park in Seoul and Gyeonggi covers an area of and was established on 2 April 1983. Bukhansan means "mountains north of the Han River."... 북한산국립공원 北漢山國立公園		Seoul Seoul Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world... , Gyeonggi	1983	80 km² (30.9 sq mi)	Mountainous
Byeonsan-bando Byeonsan-bando National Park Byeonsan-bando National Park is a national park in South Korea and was designated in 1988 as the only peninsula based park with a mix of mountains and sea in the country. The total area is with being sea. Byeonsan-bando is divided into two parts which are the Naebyeonsan and the Oebyeonsan... 변산반도국립공원 邊山半島國立公園		Jeollabuk-do Jeollabuk-do Jeollabuk-do is a province in the southwest of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Jeolla province, and remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea...	1988	155 km² (59.8 sq mi)	Marine and coastal
Chiaksan Chiaksan National Park Chiaksan National Park is located in the province of Gangwon-do, South Korea. It was designated as the 16th national park in 1984. The park is named after the mountain Chiaksan, which in turn had its name changed from Jeokakasan to Chiaksan, meaning "Phesant Peak Mountain", based on a myth about... 치악산국립공원 雉岳山國立公園		Gangwon-do Gangwon-do (South Korea) Gangwon-do is a province of South Korea, with its capital at Chuncheon. Before the division of Korea in 1945, Gangwon and its North Korean neighbour Kangwŏn formed a single province.-History:...	1984	182 km² (70.3 sq mi)	Mountainous
Dadohaehaesang Dadohaehaesang National Park Dadohaehaesang National Park was designated in 1981 as the largest national park in South Korea. The total area is with being marine area and being land area. Main attractions of Dadohaehaesang National Park are Hongdo , Heuksando and Baekdo... 다도해해상국립공원 多島海海上國立公園		Jeollanam-do Jeollanam-do Jeollanam-do is a province in the southwest of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the southern half of the former Jeolla province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea...	1981	2325 km² (897.7 sq mi)	Marine and coastal
Deogyusan Deogyusan National Park Deogyusan National Park is located in the provinces of Jeollabuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. It was designated as the 10th national park in 1975. The park is home to a total of 1,067 plant species, 32 mammal species, 130 bird species, 9 amphibian species, 13 reptile species, 28 fish... 덕유산국립공원 德裕山國立公園		Jeollabuk-do Jeollabuk-do Jeollabuk-do is a province in the southwest of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Jeolla province, and remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea... , Gyeongsangnam-do Gyeongsangnam-do Gyeongsangnam-do is a province in the southeast of South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Changwon. It contains the major metropolitan center and port of Busan. Located there is UNESCO World Heritage Site Haeinsa, a Buddhist temple that houses the Tripitaka Koreana and attracts many...	1975	232 km² (89.6 sq mi)	Mountainous
Gayasan 가야산국립공원 伽倻山國立公園		Gyeongsangnam-do Gyeongsangnam-do Gyeongsangnam-do is a province in the southeast of South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Changwon. It contains the major metropolitan center and port of Busan. Located there is UNESCO World Heritage Site Haeinsa, a Buddhist temple that houses the Tripitaka Koreana and attracts many... , Gyeongsangbuk-do Gyeongsangbuk-do Gyeongsangbuk-do or shortly Gyeongbuk is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea.The Gyeongsangbuk-do Office is...	1972	77 km² (29.7 sq mi)	Mountainous
Gyeongju Gyeongju National Park Gyeongju National Park is located in the providence of Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea, and is the country's only historical national park. It was first designated a national park in 1968. The park covers many of the principal Silla historical sites in Gyeongju City... 경주국립공원 慶州國立公園		Gyeongsangbuk-do Gyeongsangbuk-do Gyeongsangbuk-do or shortly Gyeongbuk is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea.The Gyeongsangbuk-do Office is...	1968	137 km² (52.9 sq mi)	Historical
Gyeryongsan Gyeryongsan National Park Gyeryongsan National Park is one of 20 national parks in South Korea. It was designated as a national park in 1968, as the second park in the country. It covers an area of . One part of Gyeryongsan, a high mountain, is located in the park.... 계룡산국립공원 鷄龍山國立公園		Chungcheongnam-do Chungcheongnam-do Chungcheongnam-do or Chungnam is a province in the west of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the south-western half of the former Chungcheong Province and remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, thereafter becoming part of South Korea... , Daejeon Daejeon Daejeon is South Korea's fifth largest metropolis and the provincial capital of Chungnam. Located in the center of the country, Daejeon had a population of over 1.5 million in 2010. It is at the crossroads of Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway. Within the...	1968	65 km² (25.1 sq mi)	Mountainous
Hallasan Hallasan National Park Hallasan National Park is located in the province of Jeju-do, South Korea. It was designated as the 9th national park in 1970. It features the highest mountain in South Korea, the shield volcano Hallasan on Jeju Island. It was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2002, and a World Heritage... 한라산국립공원 漢拏山國立公園		Jeju-do Jeju-do Jeju-do is the only special autonomous province of South Korea, situated on and coterminous with the country's largest island. Jeju-do lies in the Korea Strait, southwest of Jeollanam-do Province, of which it was a part before it became a separate province in 1946...	1970	153 km² (59.1 sq mi)	Mountainous
Hallyeohaesang Hallyeohaesang National Park Hallyeo Haesang National Park in South Korea was designated as national park in 1968 in accordance with Natural Park Act. Hallyeohaesang National Park is composed of 6 districts, which are Sangju•Geumsan district, Namhaedaegyo district, Sacheon district, Tongyeong, Hansan district, Geoje,... 한려해상국립공원 閑麗海上國立公園		Jeollanam-do Jeollanam-do Jeollanam-do is a province in the southwest of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the southern half of the former Jeolla province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea... , Gyeongsangnam-do	1968	545 km² (210.4 sq mi)	Marine and coastal
Jirisan Jirisan National Park Jirisan National Park is a national park in South Korea, located on the boundaries of Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do. Jirisan was the first park to be designated as a national park in South Korea, in 1967... 지리산국립공원 智異山國立公園		Jeollanam-do Jeollanam-do Jeollanam-do is a province in the southwest of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the southern half of the former Jeolla province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea... , Jeollabuk-do Jeollabuk-do Jeollabuk-do is a province in the southwest of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Jeolla province, and remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea... , Gyeongsangnam-do Gyeongsangnam-do Gyeongsangnam-do is a province in the southeast of South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Changwon. It contains the major metropolitan center and port of Busan. Located there is UNESCO World Heritage Site Haeinsa, a Buddhist temple that houses the Tripitaka Koreana and attracts many...	1967	472 km² (182.2 sq mi)	Mountainous
Juwangsan Juwangsan National Park Juwangsan National Park is located in North Gyeongsang province, South Korea, and is part of the Taebaek mountain range. It was designated the 12th national park in South Korea in 1976. The total size of the park is... 주왕산국립공원 周王山國立公園		Gyeongsangbuk-do Gyeongsangbuk-do Gyeongsangbuk-do or shortly Gyeongbuk is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea.The Gyeongsangbuk-do Office is...	1976	107 km² (41.3 sq mi)	Mountainous
Naejangsan Naejangsan National Park Naejangsan National Park is located in the provinces of Jeollabuk-do and Jeollanam-do, South Korea. It was designated as the 8th national park in 1971. It is named after the mountain Naejangsan. The park is home to a total of 919 plant species and 1,880 animal species. 12 of the animals are... 내장산국립공원 內藏山國立公園		Jeollanam-do Jeollanam-do Jeollanam-do is a province in the southwest of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the southern half of the former Jeolla province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea... , Jeollabuk-do Jeollabuk-do Jeollabuk-do is a province in the southwest of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Jeolla province, and remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea...	1971	81 km² (31.3 sq mi)	Mountainous
Odaesan Odaesan National Park Odaesan National Park is located in the province of Gangwon-do, South Korea. It was first designated as the 11th national park in 1975. The park is named after the mountain Odaesan, which means "Five Plains Mountain", named after the five plains between the areas five major peaks... 오대산국립공원 五臺山國立公園		Gangwon-do Gangwon-do (South Korea) Gangwon-do is a province of South Korea, with its capital at Chuncheon. Before the division of Korea in 1945, Gangwon and its North Korean neighbour Kangwŏn formed a single province.-History:...	1975	304 km² (117.4 sq mi)	Mountainous
Seoraksan 설악산국립공원 雪嶽山國立公園		Gangwon-do Gangwon-do (South Korea) Gangwon-do is a province of South Korea, with its capital at Chuncheon. Before the division of Korea in 1945, Gangwon and its North Korean neighbour Kangwŏn formed a single province.-History:...	1970	398 km² (153.7 sq mi)	Mountainous
Sobaeksan Sobaeksan National Park Sobaeksan National Park is located in the provinces of Chungcheongbuk-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. It was designated as the 18th national park in 1987. It is named after the mountain Sobaeksan. The park is home to 1,067 plant species and 2,639 animal species.-External links:*... 소백산국립공원 小白山國立公園		Chungcheongbuk-do Chungcheongbuk-do Chungcheongbuk-do is a province in the centre of South Korea. It was formed in 1896 from the northeastern half of the former Chungcheong province... , Gyeongsangbuk-do Gyeongsangbuk-do Gyeongsangbuk-do or shortly Gyeongbuk is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea.The Gyeongsangbuk-do Office is...	1987	322 km² (124.3 sq mi)	Mountainous
Songnisan Songnisan National Park Songnisan National Park is located in the center of the Sobaek Mountains range, on the border between the provinces of Chungcheongbuk-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. The area comprises the valleys of Hwayang, Seonyu, and Ssanggok and the mountain Songnisan, which has given the park its... 속리산국립공원 俗離山國立公園		Chungcheongbuk-do Chungcheongbuk-do Chungcheongbuk-do is a province in the centre of South Korea. It was formed in 1896 from the northeastern half of the former Chungcheong province... , Gyeongsangbuk-do Gyeongsangbuk-do Gyeongsangbuk-do or shortly Gyeongbuk is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea.The Gyeongsangbuk-do Office is...	1970	274 km² (105.8 sq mi)	Mountainous
Taeanhaean Taeanhaean National Park Taean Haean National Park was designated as the 13th National Park in South Korea in 1978. The total area is about with being marine area. Taean Haean National Park contains various coastal ecosystems and 26 beaches along the 230km coastline... 태안해안국립공원 泰安海岸國立公園		Chungcheongnam-do Chungcheongnam-do Chungcheongnam-do or Chungnam is a province in the west of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the south-western half of the former Chungcheong Province and remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, thereafter becoming part of South Korea...	1978	326 km² (125.9 sq mi)	Marine and coastal
Wolchulsan Wolchulsan National Park Wolchulsan National Park lies in Jeollanam-do province, South Korea. Designated as a national park in 1988, Wolchulsan National Park is South Korea's smallest at only .... 월출산국립공원 月出山國立公園		Jeollanam-do Jeollanam-do Jeollanam-do is a province in the southwest of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the southern half of the former Jeolla province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea...	1988	56 km² (21.6 sq mi)	Mountainous
Woraksan Woraksan National Park Woraksan National Park is located in the provinces of Chungcheongbuk-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. It was designated as the 17th national park in 1984. It is named after the mountain Woraksan... 월악산국립공원 月岳山國立公園		Chungcheongbuk-do Chungcheongbuk-do Chungcheongbuk-do is a province in the centre of South Korea. It was formed in 1896 from the northeastern half of the former Chungcheong province... , Gyeongsangbuk-do Gyeongsangbuk-do Gyeongsangbuk-do or shortly Gyeongbuk is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea.The Gyeongsangbuk-do Office is...	1984	288 km² (111.2 sq mi)	Mountainous

External links

• Korea National Parks Service, manager of 19 of the 20 national parks