Palgongsan National ParkClaimed by the owner

Palgongsan (also spelled Palgong Mountain, formerly Gongsan) is a mountain in southeastern South Korea, on an outlier of the Taebaek range. It lies on the northeastern border between Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, spanning Chilgok County, Gunwi County, Yeongcheon, and Gyeongsan, with a peak elevation of 1,193 meters. Portions of the mountain were designated a provincial park in May 1980 and a national park on 23 May 2023.

Buddhist Sites and Cable Car

The mountain holds Buddhist shrines dating from the Silla period or later, including the large, active temple of Donghwasa and the Gunwi Triad Buddha Grotto (National Treasure 109). Its best-known natural feature is the stone Buddha statue of Gatbawi, named for the stone "hat" on its head that resembles a traditional Korean horsehair hat, or gat. Together with the Jecheondan altar at the Birobong summit, Gatbawi is a well-known site for prayer. A cable car runs up a long, sloped course to a summit station on Sillimbong peak, with cars holding six passengers each; 24 cars circulate automatically at 40-second intervals. Restaurants, cafes, and walking trails near the upper station draw visitors, including families, for a walk after the ride.

History and Trails

In 927, during the Later Three Kingdoms period, the Battle of Gongsan was fought on the mountain's southern slope between the forces of Later Baekje and Goryeo. According to the account, Later Baekje's Kyŏn Hwŏn had captured and executed King Gyeongae of Silla; Goryeo's Taejo Wang Geon then led 5,000 cavalry to intercept Kyŏn's returning troops at the mountain. Taejo escaped the battle after exchanging armor with his general Sin Sung-gyŏm, who was killed fighting on with the remaining army. The mountain is connected to downtown Daegu by bus and is a popular weekend destination from the city. It was named to the "100 Must-Visit Tourist Spots of Korea," jointly designated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization, from 2019 to 2022 and again in 2025. One marked route, the Palgongsan Olleh-gil, follows apple orchards at the foot of the mountain and takes about three hours to hike, passing the Pyeonggwangji reservoir and Moyeongjae, a house with a stone monument to General Sin Sung-gyŏm.