VANK has launched a multilingual tourism guide website to help foreign visitors explore Seoul’s mountains, hiking trails and waterfront paths, making the city’s natural attractions more accessible to international travelers.
VANK announced on Nov. 9, 2026, the launch of “Seoul Peaks” (koreamountain.one), a website designed to help visitors enjoy Seoul’s outdoor attractions without language barriers or the difficulties of navigating unfamiliar routes and public transportation. The platform brings together trail information, practical travel tips and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered route recommendations in one place.
The launch comes as urban hiking gains popularity among foreign visitors, drawn by the convenience of reaching Seoul’s mountains by bus or subway from the city center. Hiking videos featuring Seoul’s mountain scenery have been attracting attention on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, often accompanied by hashtags including “#SeoulHiking” and “#KHiking.”
According to an analysis of foreign visitor traffic released by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in July 2026, Bukhansan received the highest number of foreign hikers in 2025, with 4,015 visitors, followed by Bukaksan with 2,169, Gwanaksan with 1,192 and Achasan with 729.
Korean hiking culture has also become part of the appeal. For many visitors, the experience extends beyond reaching a summit to enjoying pajeon (Korean pancakes) and makgeolli (rice wine) at restaurants near the foot of a mountain. Along the Han River, visitors can also experience everyday aspects of Korean culture, including convenience-store ramen and food delivery by the riverside.
63 Routes Cover Mountains, Forest Trails and Urban Waterways
“Seoul Peaks” features 63 routes across three categories: 32 hiking courses on four major mountains, including Bukhansan, Bukaksan, Inwangsan and Gwanaksan; 21 courses along the Seoul Perimeter Trail, which stretches 156.5 kilometers; and 10 walking and cycling routes along urban waterways, including the Han River and Cheonggyecheon Stream.
The website also includes a “Why Seoul?” section highlighting 30 attractions, with 10 each focused on mountains, perimeter trails and waterways. Among the features it showcases are the unusual accessibility of a national park from the heart of a major city, subway connections to rugged mountain terrain, and opportunities to encounter Seoul’s history along the Hanyangdoseong (Seoul City Wall) trails.
The section on the Seoul Perimeter Trail introduces routes linking forests, streams and villages, as well as a stamp-collection program for hikers completing the courses. Its coverage of the city’s waterways highlights experiences such as eating ramen by the Han River, ordering food for riverside delivery, walking along Cheonggyecheon and visiting the Banpo Moonlight Rainbow Fountain.
AI Recommends Routes Based on Fitness Level and Preferences
To help international visitors plan their outings, the platform offers an AI-powered travel guide that recommends routes based on users’ fitness levels, available time and preferred scenery. Visitors can enter conditions such as “average fitness level,” “four hours” and “city views” to receive suitable route recommendations displayed on a map. The system also takes weather conditions and trail difficulty into account.
A GPS-based “Hiking Assistant” provides additional support while users are on the trail. It displays their current location and route on a map and allows them to track their walking time and distance.
The website also organizes practical information into a five-step guide to preparing for a walk or hike. It covers everything from transportation cards and essential items to route selection, equipment rentals, weather checks and seasonal advice for visitors.
The service is available in five languages: Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese and Indonesian.
Showcasing Seoul’s Natural and Cultural Attractions
Through “Seoul Peaks,” VANK aims to introduce Seoul’s mountains, trails and waterways as distinctive tourism attractions to the more than 20 million people who visit Korea each year, as well as international fans of Korean culture. The organization also plans to expand related content and public diplomacy initiatives to promote Korea’s natural and cultural heritage.
Park Gi-tae, Director of VANK, said Seoul stands out among the world’s more than 200 capital cities because visitors can reach an 800-meter rocky mountain, walk 150 kilometers of forest trails and enjoy views of the Han River at night while eating convenience-store ramen, all with a single transit card.
He said VANK hopes “Seoul Peaks” will serve not only as a practical guide to help visitors travel safely but also as a hub for people-to-people public diplomacy, encouraging a deeper understanding of Korea’s nature and history.
By bringing together mountain hikes, historic walking routes and riverside experiences, the platform seeks to show international visitors another side of Seoul beyond its familiar urban landmarks.