New!   Baekdu-daegan Trail Guidebook
"Hiking Korea’s Mountain Spine"
By Roger Shepherd and Andrew Douch,  with David A. Mason
is finally available for hikers and cultural-explorers!

Reviews, Interviews and Comments on the Guidebook
Primary SOURCES for these listings:

1.  The actual hiking of these ranges in South Korea by Roger
Shepherd and Andrew Douch

2.  
Namhan San-gyeong-do map published in 2009 published by
Wolgan SAN magazine, Seoul

3.  
1 Baekdu-daegan, 13 Jeongmaek book of maps published by
Saram-gwa-San magazine, Seoul

4.  
Shiljeon Baekdudaegan Jongju Sanhaeng, a book by Bang
Sang-hoon, published by Choson-ilbo-sa (the Seoul newspaper
company) in 1997

5.
Daehan-minguk 2005 Map of the Korean Peninsula, published
by Jungang Atlas, Seoul

6.
Doro-jido Choishinpan Jido-daesajeon, a book of 1:100,000
maps of South Korea, 2005 edition by Seongji Munhwasa
Publishers, Seoul.

7.
Yeongjin 5-man Jido, a book of 1:50,000 maps of South Korea,
2006 edition by Yeongjin Munhwasa Publishers, Seoul.

These sources each contain differing information, and contradict each
other in various ways, including the names, heights and exact locations
of some peaks.  I have done my best to combine and reconcile those
differences, to make it make sense, in many hours of  consideration of
multiple sources.

In particular, some peaks are named "-bong" [peak] on some maps and
"-san" [mountain] on others; there is also the suffix "-dae" [platform, with
a Buddhist meaning] used for a few peaks.  There doesn't seem to be any
consistent rule for which of those suffixes gets used (neither altitude nor
distance from other peaks seems to have much to do with it), and there
seems to be no consistent system for grouping peaks together as one
overall "-san";  these seems to be only matters of common usage.  When
in doubt, I have used "-san".

The mountain-ranges located in what is now North Korea pose particular
problems, as their names, precise locations and altitudes differ on the
various sources available -- we just don't yet have very exact and reliable
information.

The Republic of Korea's new Romanization system has been used
throughout, even for the North Korean mountains, in order to match with
contemporary South Korean maps and websites, and in the interest of
consistent accuracy.  I would welcome any corrections or suggestions
for improvement for these listings.
The 15 Currently-Most Sacred
Mountains on these 13 Branches:
(mostly in South Korea, due to our lack of info
about the North, especially modern conditions)
name
branch
#
location
highest
peak
Myohyang-san
3
Pyeongan-namdo  
Province
1909m
Songak-san
5
Gaeseong City
488m
Surak-san
6
NE Seoul
638m
Dobong-san
Seonin-bong
6
North Seoul
740m
Ilwol-san
7
N. Gyeongsang
1219m
Juwang-san
7
N. Gyeongsang
721m
Danseok-san
7
N. Gyeongsang
827m
Gaji-san
7
S. Gyeongsang
1240m
Yeongchuk-san
7
S. Gyeongsang
1081m
Geumjeong-san
7
Busan City
802m
Ma-i-san
11
North Jeolla
618m
Gyeryong-san
11
W of Daejeon City
878m
Mudeung-san
12
E of Gwangju City
1187m
Baekun-san
12
S of Jiri-san
1218m
Jiri-san
Samshin-bong
13
Hadong County
1284m
Hanbuk-jeongmaek Range
of the  Baekdu-daegan Mountain-System of Korea
Hanbuk-jeongmaek Range begins at either Baekam-san
Nam-bong or Shikgae-san, in North Korea (north of
Geumgang-san), heading south then west through:

Jeokgeun-san                         1073m     (in DMZ)
Daeseong-san                        1175m     (near DMZ)
Bukkye--san                            1057m
Bukju-san                                 1152m
Gwangdeok-san                     1046m
Baekun-san                               904m
(Hwa-ak-san 1468m /1436m / 1153m are bypassed)
Gukmang-bong                       1168m
Gangssi-bong                           830m
(Myeongji-san 1267m is bypassed)
Cheonggye-san                        849m
Hyeondeung-san              936m   (a.k.a. Unak-san)
Guksa-bong                               547m
Jukyeom-san                             601m
Yongam-san                              477m
Gitdae-bong                              288m       (long ridge going
SW)
Surak-san                         638m     (turns west)
(Bulam-san 507m is bypassed)
Dobong-san Seonin-bong  740m   (part of Bukhan-san)
(Dobong's O-bong 660m & Sapae-san 552m are
bypassed)
Dobong's Sangjang-bong   543m
(the Samgak-san 837m complex is bypassed)
Nogo-san                                     496m   (long ridge turns
north)
Gyemyeong-san                          559m   (turns west)
Bakdal-san Dong-bong              350m
Bakdal-san Seo-bong                277m
Majang-san                                 100m?
Gigan-san                                    246m

ending at Jangmyeon-san / Bohyeon-san  168m
(where the Imjin River runs into the Han River)
(just below that is Tong-il-dongsan Park, with a 151m
peak and Odu-san 100m? right next to the confluence)