Deogyusan National Park, Muju

Yoo Chung · CC BY-SA 2.5

A cable car straight up to near a 1,614-metre summit, where ice coats the trees into a white forest in winter.

Deogyusan is one of the few Korean mountains over sixteen hundred metres you can reach the top of by cable car — the Muju ski resort line runs all year. From the upper station it is a twenty-minute walk to Hyangjeokbong summit. In winter moisture freezes onto the branches into what Koreans call snow flowers, and the whole flank turns a glaring white. At the foot of the mountain lies the Gucheondong valley, more than twenty kilometres long, holding thirty-three named scenic spots dating from the Joseon era, each one a rock pool or a run of rapids.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Deogyusan National Park, Muju?

January–February (ice) and June–August (the valley)

How much does it cost to visit Deogyusan National Park, Muju?

Gondola 25,000 KRW return (20,000 children); it can stop running in bad weather

How long do you need at Deogyusan National Park, Muju?

Half to a full day

What are the opening hours of Deogyusan National Park, Muju?

National park hours and cable car schedule

Did you know

Hyangjeokbong summit reaches 1,614m, among Korea's highest peaks.
The Muju ski resort cable car runs year-round, close to the summit.
Gucheondong valley holds 33 named scenic spots dating from Joseon.
Ice-covered trees in winter are the main reason people climb in the cold.

Travel tips

The cable car stops in high wind — check before driving out.
The summit is far colder than the valley; bring an extra layer.
In summer, walk Gucheondong valley instead of going for the summit.

Source: https://tour.muju.go.kr/tour/contents.do?key=110

Updated: 2026-08-04