Naejangsan is a mountain located on the border of North Jeolla and South Jeolla provinces in southwestern South Korea, approximately three hours drive south of Seoul. It has an elevation of 763 m (2,503 ft). Naejangsan forms the core of Naejangsan National Park. It is located nearby the city of Jeongeup and is a very popular tourist destination, particularly in autumn due to its spectacular autumn foliage.
Naejang means that something hidden in the mountain is infinite. The mountain is located in the boundary between Jeong-up and Sun-chang. It is one of the best mountains in Korea. And it has been famous for fall foliage more than 500 years. On 17 November 1971, the mountain became a national park. During the peak season, there are about 100,000 tourists per day visiting to see fall foliage, and there are a million tourists in per year. In the spring, there is cherry blossoms on the green mountain. In the summer, there is well-shade of tree. In the autumn, there is a blazing fall foliage. In the winter, there is snowy landscape. The mountain is very attractive in all four seasons.
Naejangsan is also a famous mountain in the Jeolla-do province, and the best mountain in Korea for viewing autumn’s crimson leaves. The park is 76,032 sq. km. in size and became a National Park along with Baekyangsa District on Nov. 17th, 1971. The name Naejang means 'many secrets' in the mountain. Because of the bright crimson leaves that blanket Naejangsan Mountain’s fall scenery, the mountain is also referred to as "Geumgangsan of Honam."
Inside the park, there are famous waterfalls, such as Dodeok Falls and Geumseon Falls, and temples such as Baekyangsa and Naejangsa temples. If you follow the valley left of the ticket booth, you can see the waters of Dodeok Falls, cascading down the cliff. If you go further along the valley you can see the waters Geumseon Falls where even the gods have supposedly bathed. Baekyangsa Temple is both majestic and serene, surrounded by Gulgeori trees that retain their lush green leaves even in winter, and also the Bija trees. Along with Baekyangsa Temple, the Naejangsa Temple is the place to visit during the fall for its lovely autumn leaves. Besides these, there are about 760 kinds of local plants, designated Natural Monuments, and various wild animals living inside Mt. Naejangsan Park.
The Park is beautiful not only in the fall, but also in the spring when the azaleas and cherry blossoms bloom, in the summer when the green mountain turns greener, and the winter when the rock cliffs cover themselves with snow. All throughout the year, different kinds of wild flowers bloom here.
