Hallasan Trail Reservation Guide: How to Book Summit Permits

Securing a spot through the Hallasan Trail Reservation Guide system is mandatory for anyone planning to reach the peak of Mount Hallasan (1,947 meters), South Korea's highest mountain. Operating on Jeju Island, the reservation system controls visitor volume on summit routes to protect sensitive subalpine ecosystems. As of October 2026, foreign visitors can easily reserve free hiking permits online using passport details without needing a local Korean mobile phone number.

While non-summit trails around Mount Hallasan remain open to the public without advance registration, peak-bound hikers must plan weeks ahead. Understanding how the permit system works, navigating foreign booking procedures, and meeting strict seasonal cutoff times are essential steps for a smooth trek to the summit crater lake, Baengnokdam (백록담).

Do You Need a Permit to Hike Mt. Hallasan?

You only need a hiking permit if your itinerary includes reaching the 1,947-meter Baengnokdam summit via the Seongpanak or Gwaneumsa trails. Lower and mid-elevation trails across Mount Hallasan National Park (한라산국립공원) do not require advance permits or entry fees.

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province implemented the reservation system to reduce trail overcrowding, prevent erosion, and maintain hiker safety along steep summit approaches. If you choose to hike non-summit trails such as Yeongsil (영실), Eorimok (어리목), or Eoseungsaengak (어승생악), you can simply arrive at the trailhead during operating hours without registering online. These non-summit paths lead hikers through diverse subalpine flora up to intermediate destinations like Witseoreum (윗세오름) or Nambyeok Junction (남벽분기점) along the Donnaeko trail, offering expansive mountain views without requiring permit validation.

The table below outlines permit requirements across the primary hiking routes on Mount Hallasan as of October 2026:

Trail Name	Romanization & Korean	Summit Access?	Daily Quota	Permit Required?
Seongpanak Trail	Seongpanak (성판악)	Yes (Baengnokdam)	1,000 hikers	Yes (Free)
Gwaneumsa Trail	Gwaneumsa (관음사)	Yes (Baengnokdam)	500 hikers	Yes (Free)
Yeongsil Trail	Yeongsil (영실)	No (Stops at Witseoreum)	No limit	No
Eorimok Trail	Eorimok (어리목)	No (Stops at Witseoreum)	No limit	No
Donnaeko Trail	Donnaeko (돈내코)	No (Stops at Nambyeok)	No limit	No

How Does the Hallasan Reservation System Work?

The official Hallasan Reservation System releases non-transferable, zero-cost (0 KRW) hiking permits at 09:00 KST on the first business day of each month for dates in the following calendar month.

Daily entries are capped at 1,500 total summit hikers—1,000 for Seongpanak and 500 for Gwaneumsa. High-demand periods like October autumn foliage and winter snow months from December through February frequently sell out within minutes of release. Unreserved spots and real-time cancellation slots open automatically on the portal throughout the month.

Because permits tie directly to your passport identity, you cannot resell or transfer a reservation. Each permit also locks you into a specific entry trailhead and mandatory time window.

How Can You Score Last-Minute Cancellation Slots on the Reservation Portal?

If summit permits sell out for your travel dates on Jeju Island, you still have options. Real-time cancellation slots open continually on the official online system as registered hikers adjust their schedules or drop slots to avoid no-show penalties.

Park authority rules allow cancellations until the end of the reserved entry time slot on the day of the hike. As a result, dropped permits cluster heavily as the reserved time slots approach.

Checking the reservation portal frequently on or right before your intended hike day gives you the best shot at grabbing an opening. Once a spot appears, select your entry time window and submit your foreign verification details immediately.

How to Book Your Permit as a Foreigner Without a Korean Phone Number

International travelers can complete the booking process on the official English reservation portal without undergoing Korean mobile identity verification or using a domestic resident registration number.

While Korean citizens verify their identity through local telecom carriers or KakaoTalk, foreign passport holders authenticate using a valid email address and passport details. This setup allows international visitors to secure mountain permits well before arriving in South Korea.

On hike day, present both the digital QR code on your mobile device and your physical passport to park inspectors at the check-in gate. Inspectors cross-reference your passport against the digital manifest, so electronic scans or photo copies are not accepted.

What Are the Seasonal Cut-Off Times and Checkpoints?

Hallasan National Park enforces strict, non-negotiable intermediate time checkpoints on both summit trails to ensure all hikers descend safely before dark.

The first checkpoint sits at mid-mountain shelters: Jindallae-bat / Azalea Shelter (진달래밭 대피소) on the Seongpanak Trail, and Samgakbong Shelter (삼각봉 대피소) on the Gwaneumsa Trail. Hikers reaching these checkpoints even one minute past the mandatory cutoff time are turned back by mountain rangers, regardless of weather conditions or permit status.

The second checkpoint is at the Baengnokdam summit peak itself, where rangers clear the plateau to allow adequate time for hikers to complete their descent before darkness falls over the rough terrain.

Season	Operating Months	Trailhead Entry Window	Mid-Shelter Cutoff Time	Summit Clearance Time
Winter	Oct 1 – Mar 31	05:00 – 11:30	11:30 AM	13:30 (1:30 PM)
Summer	Apr 1 – Sep 30	05:00 – 12:30	12:30 PM	14:30 (2:30 PM)

Seongpanak vs. Gwaneumsa: Which Summit Trail Should You Choose?

Choosing between Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa depends on your physical fitness, trail preferences, and scenery expectations.

Seongpanak (성판악) spans 9.6 km, climbing gradually through dense basalt forests and wooden boardwalks. It offers a gentler incline, making it popular for long-distance endurance hikers and winter snow trekkers, though much of the middle section stays enclosed by trees until Jindallae-bat Shelter.

Gwaneumsa (관음사) runs 8.7 km and hits steeper gradients, dropping into deep volcanic valleys like Tamna Valley before climbing steep stone steps and ridge suspension bridges. It demands more leg strength, but rewards hikers with open cliff landscapes and dramatic mountain vistas.

How to Get to the Trailheads via Early-Morning Public Transit and Taxis

Reaching the trailheads for early morning entry windows requires planning around local Jeju public transit schedules.

Seongpanak Trailhead Transit

Public Bus #281 runs along the 516-ro highway connecting Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal in the north to Seogwipo Central Terminal in the south. According to Jeju Public Bus Services, as of October 2026, the first #281 departures start around 06:00 AM, taking approximately 35 to 40 minutes from downtown Jeju City to the Seongpanak entrance bus stop.

If driving a rental car, note that the Seongpanak trailhead parking lot (1,000 KRW for the first hour plus 500 KRW per additional 20 minutes, up to a 13,000 KRW daily cap) frequently fills to capacity before 06:30 AM on weekends and snow days.

Gwaneumsa Trailhead Transit

Public Bus #475 serves the Gwaneumsa Trailhead, connecting from Jeju University. Hikers originating from downtown Jeju City usually take Bus #365 or Bus #281 to Jeju University and transfer to Bus #475.

Because transfer connections can add time in the early morning, taking a taxi via the Kakao T app is widely preferred for Gwaneumsa. A taxi fare from downtown Jeju City to Gwaneumsa Trailhead typically costs between 18,000 KRW and 22,000 KRW.

What Should You Pack Given the Mountain's Zero-Food Policy?

Mountain shelters on Mount Hallasan do not sell food, bottled water, or gear. Hikers must bring all necessary food, water, and trash bags from their accommodation.

During winter months, park inspectors will turn away hikers at entry gates if they lack crampons when trails are covered in ice or hard-packed snow.

What Happens If You Miss Your Scheduled Entry Time Slot?

Your Hallasan permit specifies an entry time window selected during booking (for example, Slot 1 from 06:00 to 08:00, or Slot 2 from 08:00 to 10:00). Trailhead entrance gates use automated barcode scanners that validate your mobile QR code strictly within that designated window.

If you arrive at the gate after your booked entry window has expired, the entry system will deny access, and park inspectors will not permit entry to the summit route. Furthermore, failing to check in during your designated window counts as an unexcused no-show.

To avoid a penalty ban (3 months for a first offense, 1 year for a second offense), you must log into the portal at visithalla.jeju.go.kr and cancel your permit before the end of your reserved entry time slot on the day of your hike.

Can You Hike Mt. Hallasan to Witseoreum Without a Trail Permit?

If you are unable to obtain a summit reservation permit for Seongpanak or Gwaneumsa, you can still experience Mount Hallasan by hiking the non-permit trails to Witseoreum (윗세오름) at 1,700 meters elevation.

The Yeongsil (영실) and Eorimok (어리목) trails are the two most popular non-permit routes. Yeongsil offers dramatic views of the Yeongsil Rocks (기암) and subalpine meadows, while Eorimok ascends through quiet oak and pine forests before opening onto the high plateau.

Both routes terminate near Witseoreum Shelter, where hikers can view the towering south wall of Baengnokdam (Nambyeok). While these trails do not lead to the 1,947m summit peak itself, they require zero permits, have no daily visitor quotas, and are fully open during normal park operating hours.

How Do You Claim Your Official Hallasan Summit Certificate?

Hikers who complete the climb to Baengnokdam summit can claim an official digital Hallasan Summit Certificate issued by the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province free of charge.