How to Hike Hallasan: The Reservation System Nobody Explains
Quick Answer
To reach Hallasan’s summit you need a free reservation booked in advance through the official system at visithalla.jeju.go.kr. The two summit trails — Seongpanak (1,000 places a day) and Gwaneumsa (500) — fill quickly. Reservations open at 09:00 on the first business day of each month for the rest of that month and all of the next. Foreigners without a Korean phone number can book using email verification. No-shows are banned from reservations for three months.
The Full Answer
Hallasan is the highest mountain in South Korea and the centrepiece of any serious Jeju trip. The two trails that reach the summit — Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa — have required advance reservations since 2024, and this is where visitors come unstuck.
The reservation itself is free. The problem is that the system is Korean-first, the daily caps are real, and the timing of when bookings open is not obvious. Foreign hikers routinely arrive at the trailhead without a reservation and are turned away at the gate.
English guides now cover the basics — the trails, the caps, the website. What they consistently miss is the mechanics: exactly when slots open, how to book without a Korean phone number, and where cancellation places come from. I checked the official reservation system and Korean hiking community posts in July 2026 to pin those down.
The Two Summit Trails
| Trail | Daily cap | Length (one way) | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seongpanak | 1,000 | ~9.6 km | Longer, more gradual |
| Gwaneumsa | 500 | ~8.7 km | Steeper, more scenic |
Both end at Baengnokdam, the summit crater lake. A common approach is up Gwaneumsa and down Seongpanak, but that requires a summit reservation tied to your entry trail.
Local tip — The non-summit trails — Yeongsil, Eorimok, Donnaeko — do not require a reservation. If the summit slots are gone or the weather is marginal, these are open, scenic, and far less trafficked. English guides tend to present Hallasan as “reserve or don’t come,” which quietly ignores half the mountain.
How the Reservation Actually Works
This is the part worth getting right before you plan flights around a summit day.
- Where: visithalla.jeju.go.kr, or by phone on 064-713-9953
- Cost: free
- Booking window: opens for the rest of the current month plus all of the next
- On completion: a QR code is sent to your phone, which you scan at the trailhead gate
Local tip — Reservations open at 09:00 (KST) on the first business day of each month, not at midnight and not on a rolling daily basis. On 1 June you can book through 31 July. Popular summer and autumn dates can fill within a couple of hours of opening, so if your trip is fixed, be online at 09:00 Korean time on that first business day.
Local tip — If your date is already full, check again one to two days before. Korean hikers release slots as their own plans firm up, and cancellations cluster in the final 48 hours — there are community posts dedicated entirely to finding released Hallasan places. A full calendar a week out is not the end of it.
Booking Without a Korean Phone Number
The system assumes a Korean identity by default, which stops a lot of foreign hikers.
Local tip — Choose the email verification option instead of phone verification. After logging in you select your trail, date and start time, and the QR code arrives by email rather than SMS. This path is not signposted prominently, and its absence from most English guides is why so many visitors assume they cannot book at all.
You enter each hiker’s details, so a group booking needs everyone’s information at the time of reservation.
Season, Weather and What to Bring
Hallasan’s summit sits above 1,900 metres, and the weather up there rarely matches Jeju City below.
| Season | Conditions at the top |
|---|---|
| Spring (Apr–May) | Azaleas near the summit; changeable, still cold up high |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Warmest, but frequent cloud and sudden rain |
| Autumn (Sep–Nov) | Clearest views, popular — book early |
| Winter (Dec–Mar) | Snow and ice; crampons often needed |
Local tip — The summit can be 10–15°C colder than Jeju City and cloud closes in fast. Korean hikers routinely carry a windproof layer even in summer, and the park can close the summit stretch on short notice for weather — which is another reason to keep a no-reservation trail like Yeongsil in reserve. Guides written for a warm coastal island undersell how alpine the top is.
The round trip runs 8–10 hours depending on trail and pace, so an early start is not optional — and the seasonal daylight matters more in winter.
No-Shows and Timing Rules
The reservation is tied to a specific start time, and the penalties for ignoring it are real.
- You must enter at your reserved time. A different time means no entry
- No-show penalty: a first offence bans you from reservations for three months; a second for a year
- Cancel in advance if your plans change — it frees the slot for someone watching for cancellations, and spares you the ban
Local tip — The start-time enforcement is stricter than most hikes anywhere. Build in a buffer for the bus from Jeju City to the trailhead, because arriving after your window closes wastes the reservation entirely.
Photo by insung yoon on Unsplash
What You Need to Know
-
Summit trails need a reservation; non-summit trails do not. Yeongsil, Eorimok and Donnaeko are open without booking.
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Bookings open 09:00 on the first business day of the month. Not midnight, not daily.
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Email verification lets foreigners book without a Korean phone number.
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Cancellation slots appear 1–2 days out. A full calendar is not final.
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No-shows are banned for three months. Cancel rather than simply not turning up.
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Weather closes the summit regularly. Have a non-summit trail as a backup and check conditions the day before.
Practical Tips
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Book at 09:00 KST on the first business day of the month if your dates are fixed.
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Use email verification, not phone. It is the route that works without a Korean number.
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Check for cancellations one to two days before if your date was full.
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Screenshot your QR code in case of patchy signal at the trailhead — sort out mobile data before Jeju.
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Allow buffer time for the trailhead bus. Missing your start window forfeits the reservation. See getting around Jeju without a car.
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Start early. The round trip is 8–10 hours; check daylight for your season.
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Budget the day’s costs with the Jeju budget guide if you’re pricing a trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation to hike Hallasan?
For the two summit trails, Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa, yes — a free advance reservation is required. The non-summit trails (Yeongsil, Eorimok, Donnaeko) do not need one.
How much does it cost?
The reservation is free. There is no entry fee for the trails themselves.
When do reservations open?
At 09:00 KST on the first business day of each month, covering the rest of that month and all of the next.
Can I book without a Korean phone number?
Yes. Use the email verification option when logging in, and the QR code arrives by email.
What happens if my date is fully booked?
Check again one to two days before, when cancellation slots typically appear as Korean hikers release places.
What should I do about getting to the trailhead?
Buses run from Jeju City to both trailheads. Allow a generous buffer — see visiting Jeju without a car for routes and the island’s transfer rules.
How long does the hike take?
The summit round trip runs 8–10 hours depending on trail and pace, so an early start is essential.
How cold is the summit?
Often 10–15°C colder than Jeju City, with fast-moving cloud. Bring a windproof layer even in summer; winter needs crampons.
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