National park · South Korea
Wolmyeongdong월명동
Go for a half day if you are already in Daejeon or Geumsan: entry is free, register at the guard house, walk the lake and rock landscape, then climb to Gamran pavilion (30 min) or Gooki peak (1 h) and be off the trails before sunset — no lights.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
2 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (2 km²)
approximate
Established
1990
Best months
Apr–May, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- South Korea ↗Check K-ETA and visa status on the official sites before you fly; the list of nationalities exempted from registering online changes year by year.
- South Korea ↗Google Maps gives poor walking and driving directions in Korea; use Naver Map or Kakao Map for routes.
- South Korea ↗Buy a T-money card (or use a phone-based transit pass) for subway and buses; it also pays at convenience stores and many taxis.
At a glance
- Country
- South Korea
- Area
- 2 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (2 km²)
- About 200 hectares (2 km²) per the park's own description; boundary not mapped publicly (check).
- Established
- 1990
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
Wolmyeongdong is a 200-hectare park of hills, lakes, pavilions and a 300 m rock landscape in the mountains of South Chungcheong, near Geumsan. It is owned and run by the Christian Gospel Mission, not by the national park service, so there is no ticket booth and no national park pass: you register at the guard house and walk in. The core — lake, octagonal pavilion, lawn, sports field, museum — is flat and easy; the trails behind it climb to viewpoints over the whole basin and link on to the Daedun mountains.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1990.
Size and age
2 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (2 km²) · national park since 1990
About 200 hectares (2 km²) per the park's own description; boundary not mapped publicly (check).
Why go
- A free, walkable park with a lake, an octagonal pavilion and a 300 m rock landscape built into the hillside.
- Short climbs with real payoff: Gamran pavilion in about 30 minutes, Gooki peak in about an hour from the lake.
- Spring flower festival and autumn rock festival fill the calendar; winter brings snow and sledding on the lawn.
- Easy to combine with Daedun mountain or a ginseng stop in Geumsan town.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanDeep cold, down to about -15 °C (5 °F); snow on trailsDeep cold, down to about 5 °F (-15 °C); snow on trails
- FebCold and icy; sledding on the lawn
- MarThaw; bare trees, quiet
- AprFlower festival; blossoms at full bloom
- MayMild, green, clear views
- JunMonsoon rains begin; slippery dirt paths
- JulMonsoon; heat to about 35 °C (95 °F)Monsoon; heat to about 95 °F (35 °C)
- AugHottest, wettest; summer retreats bring crowds
- SepMonsoon tail; clearing late in the month
- OctRed leaves and the rock festival; best walking
- NovDry, cold nights, clear ridges
- DecSnow; lake may freeze
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring flowers in bloom (flower festival)Apr–May · The park's main spring draw; dates shift with the weather. | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Autumn foliage and rock festivalOct–Nov · Red leaves on the ridges; the annual rock festival falls in this window. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no |
| Bees and occasional snakes on the trailsMay–Sep · Hazard areas are marked and fenced; staying on the path is enough. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Daejeon
Drive to Geumsan and search 월명동 수련원 in a Korean map app; or bus 34 to Jinsan and hike in through Apseob valley.
1 h by car; 1.5–2 h by bus and on foot
From Incheon Airport
Express bus to Daejeon, then intercity bus 105 toward Geumsan and get off at Majeon, where a CGM shuttle runs to the guard house.
4–5 h total (check)
From Majeon
Shuttle from the church in front of the stop; drops you at the guard house.
About 15 min (check)
From Geumsan town
Car or taxi; the town is the nearest place for ginseng shops and a market.
About 20 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance and guard house | Registration point, free parking lot below it, and the uphill walk-in path lined with trees and flowers. | Open; register first. |
| Lake, lawn and sports field | The flat heart of the park: lake with the octagonal pavilion and its tunnel, lawn sanctuary, sports field ringed by image rocks. | Open; walk everywhere. |
| Holy Son's House of Love and Culture Center | Pulpit-shaped building with a rooftop viewpoint, lifts, shops, dining hall and cafe. | Open; remove shoes on the lake pavilion. |
| Back mountain trails | Network of dirt paths through pine forest linking pavilions, caves and peaks. | Open on foot; no lighting after dark. |
Sketch map
- 1Guard house and parking · Gate≈36.121, 127.367ApproximateMap ↗
- 2Lake pavilion · Viewpoint≈36.125, 127.370Approximate; park centreMap ↗
- 3Holy Son's House of Love · Headquarters≈36.123, 127.369ApproximateMap ↗
- 4Gamran Mountain pavilion · Viewpoint≈36.130, 127.376ApproximateMap ↗
- 5Gooki Peak · Summit≈36.134, 127.382ApproximateMap ↗
- 6Majeon shuttle stop · Ranger station≈36.108, 127.345ApproximateMap ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions around the park centre and its trails, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No entry fee; register at the guard house on arrival (check). |
| Parking (lot before the guard house) | Free | car | Free (check). |
| Dining hall meal (Holy Son's House of Love) | KRW 4,000 (≈ US$3) | person | Breakfast, lunch and dinner; 2026 estimate. |
| Joo Saeng-Myeong Motel double room | KRW 20,000 (≈ US$15) | room | Korean-style floor bedding; ₩5,000 per extra person, up to 4 (check). |
| White Castle Motel double room | KRW 20,000 (≈ US$15) | room | About 15 min drive away (check). |
| Laundry at Joo Saeng-Myeong Motel | KRW 3,000 (≈ US$3) | load | Washing machines on site (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Visitor registration permit or guide
Vehicle access beyond the gate permit or guide
Cave areas in winter no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- ₩4,000≈ US$3
- ₩20,000≈ US$15
- ₩20,000≈ US$15
- ₩3,000≈ US$3
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Wolmyeongdong Park — official site before you go.
Park rules
- Register on arrival
- All visitors are asked to register with the Christian Gospel Mission; the guard house is where you do it.
- No camping or campfires
- Fires are banned for safety, but you may walk the park at night.
- Shoes off at the lake pavilion
- Remove shoes before stepping onto the pavilion floor.
- Vehicle permits
- Only cars with a special permit drive past the gate; everyone else parks in the free lot below.
- Fire care in spring and summer
- Warm, dry weather raises the mountain fire risk; do not light anything and report smoke.
Where to stay
Near the park
Joo Saeng-Myeong Motel
Korean-style rooms with floor mats, private shower, shared kitchen and laundry; about 15 min away with an hourly shuttle.
Near the park
White Castle Motel
Conventional motel rooms in Buam-ri, Jinsan-myeon, about 15 min by car; the park shuttle passes by.
Near the park
Daejeon
Full range of hotels and hostels, about 1 h by car; the better base if you want city evenings.
Safety
Darkness on the back trails high
Steep, rough dirt paths medium
Heat in July and August medium
Winter cold medium
Snakes and bees low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The entrance-to-lake stretch, lawn, sports field and Holy Son's House of Love are flat and reachable on foot, with lifts in the building.
- The lake pavilion is reached by a bridge from the shore; the pavilion floor is stepped.
- The observation point, Gamran pavilion and Gooki peak are steep dirt climbs and not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Carry out everything you bring; the park has no large waste system for visitors.
- Do not light fires or cook outside the dining hall, especially in the dry spring.
- Buy snacks, tea or a meal on site so the park's upkeep is funded by visitors rather than donations alone.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Wolmyeongdong?
Nothing. There is no entry fee and parking in the lot before the guard house is free. You are asked to register with the Christian Gospel Mission when you arrive. Meals in the dining hall run about ₩4,000, and motel rooms nearby start around ₩20,000 a night (2026 estimate).
What are the best hikes in Wolmyeongdong?
The Gamran (Olive) Mountain pavilion is the best value: about 1.6 km one way from the lake pavilion, easy to moderate, roughly 30 minutes up. Gooki (Flag) Peak is the long one at about 3.2 km one way and 1 hour from the lake, moderate to hard, and most people do both in one walk. The 10-minute climb to the observation point on Chestnut hill is the quick option if you only have an hour.
When is the best time to visit Wolmyeongdong?
April to May for the flower festival and October to November for red leaves and the rock festival. Summer is hot and wet — up to about 35 °C with monsoon rain from June — and winter drops to about -15 °C, though snow and sledding on the lawn are the draw then.
Do I need a guide or a permit?
No guide is needed; every area is walkable. You do need to register on arrival, and cars need a special permit to drive past the gate, so park in the free lot and walk up.
Can I stay overnight in Wolmyeongdong?
Not in the park — camping and campfires are banned. Two motels about 15 minutes away take visitors, and the park runs an hourly shuttle. Daejeon, roughly an hour by car, has the widest choice.
Is Wolmyeongdong the same as the Wolmyeongdong district in Gunsan?
No. Gunsan has a city district with a similar name. This Wolmyeongdong is the park in the mountains of South Chungcheong, near Geumsan and about an hour from Daejeon.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go