When people think of South Korea, they think of the modern megacity of Seoul, the country’s K-pop and K-dramas. However, for a small country, it has an amazing number of national parks – 22 to be exact. In fact, 6.7 percent of the country’s total landmass is taken up by beautiful national parks. Meanwhile, do bear in mind that most parks charge a small entrance fee to help with their upkeep. On that note, always make sure you take your trash away with you to keep the environment pristine. Here we take a look at three of the top national parks to visit in South Korea.

Bukhansan National Park, South Korea

For those travelers staying in Seoul, Bukhansan is the most convenient national park in South Korea. In fact, it is considered to be “the lungs of Seoul.” Meanwhile, it is also the most popular national park in the country, attracting more than 5 million visitors each year. For residents of Seoul, the park offers the chance to escape the nine-to-five life. It offers locals and visitors the chance to experience the park’s streams, peaks and gorges. Moreover, this national park is home to 1,300 different species.

However, the park’s popularity has taken its toll on its ecosystem. When traveling as an eco-tourist, take the time out to combine a hike with a park maintenance experience and cleanup day. Meanwhile, among its many attractions, hikers can see the Bukhansanseong fortress, as well as old Buddhist temples and monastic cells.

Jirisan National Park

South Korea’s largest and oldest national park, Jirisan National Park occupies three of the country’s nine provinces, Gyeongsangnamdo, Jeollanamdo and Jeollabukdo. Moreover, with its many trails, the park is one of the best for hikers. For those with daring and stamina, Jirisan is home to the highest mainland mountain, Cheonwangbong. Meanwhile, for those who just want to stroll, the valleys are a beautiful option.

Jirisan National Park offers 18 different trails, the most memorable being Jongju Course. This three-day and two-night 15.8-mile hike traverses 13 peaks. Meanwhile, it also offers overnight shelters all the way that can be booked in advance.

Jirisan is renowned for its diversity of plants and wildlife. As can be seen from the image above, you are likely to spot beautiful cherry trees, Korean winter hazel trees and millennium pine. Amongst the trees, you might get lucky enough to spot an endangered Asiatic black bear or an elk or two.

Dadohaehaesang National Park

Among South Korea’s national parks there are three marine and coastal national parks, with Dadohaehaesang being the largest overall. The park covers almost 772 sq mi of water, and 129 sq mi of land. Meanwhile, among Dadohaehaesang’s seven coastal areas in the Yellow Sea are Heuksando, a group of 100 mostly unvisited or inhabited islands

One such island is Jindo, the island of the Korean dog breed, and Cheongsando, considered to be the legendary land of Taoist fortunes. To get there, passenger ships run from island to island all year round.

Meanwhile, apart from its spectacular rock formations, Dadohaehaesang also offers rare, finless porpoises, and lush, evergreen forests.

Spend time in the National Parks of South Korea this year, experiencing almost every kind of beautiful scenery, wildlife and plant life. Visit the official website of South Korea’s National Parks for more information and details about the other scenic parks.