Five Mountains of Korea

The Five Mountains of Korea (Korean: 오악; Hanja: 五嶽; RR: Oak; MR: Oak) are five renowned mountains in Korean culture.

Kumgangsan, Myohyangsan, and Paektusan are under North Korean control, while Samgaksan (renamed Bukhansan) and Jirisan are under South Korean control.^[1]

• Center - Samgaksan (삼각산; 三角山)
• North - Paektusan (백두산; 白頭山)
• South - Jirisan (지리산; 智異山)
• East - Mount Kumgang (금강산; 金剛山)
• West - Myohyangsan (묘향산; 妙香山)

In Silla times, these mountains were considered as guardians of the country, so ceremonial rituals were held by these mountains. All of these mountains are within South Korea.^[2]

• Center - Palgongsan (팔공산; 八公山)
• North - Taebaeksan (태백산; 太白山)
• South - Jirisan (지리산; 智異山)
• East - Tohamsan (토함산; 吐含山)
• West - Gyeryongsan (계룡산; 鷄龍山)

In North Korea, the following are known as the five famous mountains.^[3] Of them, only Jirisan is in South Korea.

• Paektusan (백두산; 白頭山)
• Kumgangsan (금강산; 金剛山)
• Myohyangsan (묘향산; 妙香山)
• Kuwolsan (구월산; 九月山)
• Jirisan (지리산; 智異山)

Occasionally a sixth one, Chilbosan (칠보산; 七寶山) in North Korea, is added to reach a list of six famous mountains.^[4]

These five mountains are considered as "the representative peaks of Gyeonggi Province". All of them are in South Korea, except Song'aksan which is in North Korean territory.

• Gamaksan (감악산; 紺岳山)
• Gwanaksan (관악산; 冠岳山)
• Hwaaksan (화악산; 華岳山)
• Song'aksan (송악산; 松岳山)
• Unaksan (운악산; 雲岳山)

• Sacred Mountains of China, for five sacred mountains revered in Chinese culture
• Baekdu-daegan, the mountain range that stretches down the length of the Korean peninsula