Gyejoksan Mountain (Yeongwol)

This description was machine-translated from the Korea Tourism Organization's Korean original.

Gyejoksan Mountain is a 890 m mountain located east of Yeongwol-eup. It is called Gyejoksan because its shape resembles a chicken’s foot, and it is also known as Jeongyangsan Mountain. At the foot of the mountain are historic sites such as Wanggeomseong Fortress, a Goguryeo mountain fortress, and the Stele of King Jeongjo’s Placenta Chamber, as well as the Yeongwol Thermal Power Plant. Wanggeomseong is a stone fortress estimated to have been built during the reign of King Micheon of Goguryeo. Situated at an elevation of 400 m, it is one of the few Goguryeo historic sites in the country, with four gates, a well site, and tile fragments remaining. The Stele of King Jeongjo’s Placenta Chamber is a stele enshrining King Jeongjo’s placenta; it was created in the 29th year of King Yeongjo’s reign (1753), and the stele erected in the first year of King Sunjo’s reign (1801) is inscribed with King Jeongjo’s filial piety and achievements. While climbing Gyejoksan Mountain, you can see the Donggang and Seogang rivers of Gangwon-do flowing down through the valleys, meeting at Yeongwol-eup, and flowing into the Namhangang River. There are two ways to climb Gyejoksan Mountain: the Wanggeomseong parking lot course and the Jeongyangsanseong Fortress course. The Wanggeomseong parking lot course is the shortest; starting from the Wanggeomseong parking lot, it is about a 1.6 km walk to the summit of Gyejoksan Mountain and takes about 2 hours. The Jeongyangsanseong Fortress parking lot course starts from the Jeongyangsanseong Fortress parking lot, visits Jeongyangsanseong Fortress and the Stele of King Jeongjo’s Placenta Chamber, and then continues up to the summit of Gyejoksan Mountain, taking about 4 hours. There is also a course that starts at the end of the thermal power plant wall and goes up to the summit of Gyejoksan Mountain via Jeungi Waterfall, Saejae Spring, and Sigibawi Rock, taking about 5–6 hours. It is well worth planning a special trip in Yeongwol County, following a hiking trail that suits you to the beautiful summit of Gyejoksan Mountain while seeking out the historic sites hidden within the mountain.