Hanguk Trail Running: Inreungsan

     Inreungsan stands 327m tall, and is located in Seocho, Seoul. Often overshadowed by the more popular Cheonggyesan (620m), Inreungsan offers more secluded trails to explore.

    The landmark was first recorded as "Cheonrimsan" in scriptures from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) (Kim & Seo, n.d.). The inception of the name "Inreungsan" remains a topic of debate. It may be rooted in the mountain's role as a guardian of King Sunjo's tomb, known as "Inreung." The term "san" means mountain in Korean. Some contest that the original name was lost during the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945). 

    A tragic incident occurs on the norther slopes of the mountain on May 13, 2015, when a soldier from the reserve forces opens fire during training (Lee, 2015). The shooter killed two fellow soldiers and injured two others before taking his own life. An army base is still stationed on the northern slopes of Inreungsan, with barbed-wired fences that separate the mountain north from south along the ridge. 

    Despite its fences and the genesis of its name, the forest is a thing to behold. This is especially so in winter. It was an early winter morning, the first time I went running on that mountain. It was snug in the car with the heater on blast. It was disheartening to step out of that blanket of warmth into that piercing thaw. All I could think was, "What am I doing here? What have I done?"

    Everything changed once I crossed the tree line. A fine mist had settled over the mountain as the sunlight pierced through the naked branches. A thin layer of ice had frosted over the ground but the frozen earth provided traction. A profound sense of gratitude uplifted me. "There is nowhere else I would rather be than here," I thought to myself.

    The first climb is difficult, which is perfect because it will warm you right up. It is a steep 300m climb, with the aid of coir matts and wooden stairs. The forest is rather dense and the visibility is low but there are clearings where the sun beams down and the apartments stretch on for miles. It was as if no one had told the sun that it was February, its rays reminiscent of a summer day. 

    After the initial climb, you are running on the ridge for the next 8km. There are smaller ascents and descents but nothing as trying as the initial effort. The terrain is technical at parts, and can be incredibly fun to traverse. The leaf litter is ankle-deep in fall, so you can strengthen your ankles on the loose rocks. The trails are muddy during the monsoon season, optimal for core-training as you slip and slide on the loose sediment. Things are much calmer in the winter when everything is frozen in place.

    One of the best aspects of the Inreungsan trails, officially called "Nubigil Course Seven," is that it is easy to navigate. Just follow the metal fences, which the soldiers have kindly installed, all the way to the summit. Sometimes you may hear the distant gun shots from the army base but do not be alarmed--I personally use it as motivation to run a little faster.

    The summit is not particularly impressive. It is rather boring, as there is nothing there to see but the helipad. However, the course I can share (a GPX file) will take you further northwest from the peak. Amazing views of Seoul can be seen from a clearing not 300m removed from the summit (marked on the file). Continue along the ridge until you arrive at a fork. The GPX file will lead you further down to an apartment complex, the turn point. You can also veer southwest at the fork to the only water source on the trail. It is a natural mineral water spring.

    The out-and-back course I can share with you--upon request--is altogether 10km (500m). The return is mostly downhill. Take the time to listen. There are parts of the trail where the traffic noise does not through, and the silence is frightening consoling. Listen to the birds. Take note of the parse vegetation on the ground, as most of the sunlight is blocked from the tall trees. I do not know why but I also think about how well tigers would have camouflaged in the dense boreal jungle of Korea. The forest floors are orange with the decaying debris and soil, while the dark pine trees draw dark lines against the silhouette. I have encountered deer and wild dogs on the trail. The dogs are all bark and no bite--in my experience. Give them space and they will be on their way. If you are running in the summer, be ready to run with the gnats. They are persistent and cannot be fended off with natural oils, head wear, and/or bug spray. Be ready to run into spider webs. Rest assured that there are no poisonous spiders in Korea!

    Please remember to respect the mountain and clean up after yourself. Others may not conduct themselves the same way--evident from the litter--but you can have grace while others do not. My father, who loves fish so much that he cannot--does not catch any fish, always told me, "Leave the place you visit just as you found it."

Conditions	The Inreungsan Trail (as is in the attached GPX File)
Lit at Night	No, headlights are a must.
Wild Life	Yes, boars and deer. I have personally encountered deer and wild dogs.
Paved	Yes and no. Parts of the trail (approximately 20%) are matted with coconut coir and wooden stairs.
Bathrooms	No.
Water Source	Yes.
CCTV & Emergency Bells	No.
Accessible by Car	Yes, there is a public parking lot 400m removed from the entrance of the trail: Seoul Seocho-gu Sinwon-dong 224-3.
Accessible by Public Transportation	Yes, but is a 1km walk from the train station: Cheonggyesan Station.

S.G.
January 22, 2025


P.S. Here is the link to the difficult course GPX file. The course is longer than stated because it begins from the station--sorry I was trying to increase my mileage. I will update it the next time I visit the trail!
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/328504341

References:

1. Kim S., and Seo C. (n.d.) 인릉산. 디지털성남문화대전. https://seongnam.grandculture.net/seongnam/toc/GC00101944

2. Lee D. (2015). 서울 내곡동 예비군 훈련장서 예비군 총기난사 후 자살...3명 사망, 2명 부상. 조선일보. https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2015/05/13/2015051301340.html