Extreme Sports - Rock Climbing!
Interested in some extreme sports? Living in Ulsan has some great benefits - especially if you're a rock climber. Just a few kilometers outside of Mugeodong, Munsusan has a fabulous array of sport routes set up. Whether you have never gone rock climbing and want to try, a beginner and want to get your new Sportivas scuffed or are looking to hang upside down by your toenails on an overhang, Munsusan has what you're looking for.
Once upOn a time in Ulsan, there were a good number of rock climbers who regularly hit the Munsu cliffs for some extreme fun and exercise. In fact, two of the editors of this website first met arranging a rock climbing date. Saturdays and Sundays were prime time for getting vertical and even mornings before the hogwans fire up was fairly common. These days, however, the number has dwindled; some have moved away, some have lost interest, some have been exposed to severe injury and shy away from it (extreme sports are like that sometimes) and some, like this writer, have just gotten old (mentally, I refuse to believe that, but my joints say otherwise.) Regardless, there are still enough people in Ulsan with climbing gear for an afternoon of fun. When the weather is warm, my wife and I will certainly be on the mountain on the weekends. I have a rope and hardware for most of the climbs on Munsu.
Most of the rock is granite and very vertical, or as climbers call it – facey. There are some overhangs, but not many. Routes ranges from 5.8 to 5.13a (moderaTely easy to monster). Depending on your skill and desires, there are routes on Munsusan for almost everyone.
How to get there:
From Sinbok Rotary in Mugeodong, take Munsuro Road (road 7) west for about 5 minutEs. Watch for signs to Munsu TEmple(Munsusa). Stay to the right as if you were going to Road 14, but go straight. After you pass thru the light for Road 14 take a right. Follow this narrow road up the mountain. The small roads are like spider webs but if you try and stay on the "main" one and keep going up, you should be fine. 
At the top is a small parking lot, bathrooms and on top of the bathrooms a small "observatory". Head towards the food stands and that's where the trail begins. Follow the trail up for about 15-20 minutes. After about 5 minutes the trail levels out and you start to traverse the cliff. Then you will come to a staircase. Don't go up the staircase. Instead, head down the trail that veers off to the left.
Just below the stairs you will come up on one of the largest of the climbs on Munsu, the Tower. If continue walking alOng this wall, other routes with bolts should be visible. If you go back up the staircase, you can tie off your rope on the picnic area platform to the left of the stairs.
AlternaTively, another set of climbs is more accessible from below the parking lot. Take the wide trail that comes off to the left of the main road just below the parking area. Follow this trail for 10-15 minutes, working your way up any rock that has been positioned in a staircase fashion. You should see the cliffs in front of you. There is a very friendly shaman who lives there and if you traverse the cliff face to the left past his mini-temple and up and around his makeshift tent, you'll arrive at some of the easiest climbs on Munsusan.
This section of the cliffs is the easist and is always busy with those who are skill-building (i.e. noobs) and those who want to warm up before attempting the more difficult routes. This area also has a wide, flat area at the base of the wall with a rope retaining section, a perfect spot for picnics for the many Korean climbing schools that frequent the area on weekends.
Indoor Climbing.
A basement gym that's been around for a long time is Hanbaek climbing center. There are some fitness machines, but mostly just a large bouldering area with varying overhangs. There is a small monthly fee for membership. Climbing school and trips are available. A few members speak English.Their website is here
How to Get There:
Located in Nam-gu a block off of Munsuro. The gym is south of the County Prosecutor's Office (법원), and just across from Geumho/금호 apartments. It's west of the Ulju-gu office, east of Munsu Football Stadium. You could take a bus to the County Prosecutor's office (법원) stop, then head N one block. When you get off the bus, you should see a Millet shop (selling minimal climbing gear, mostly clothing and accessories). The door is well signed. It's in the basement.
Korea being a rather mountainous country, there are a number of climbing areas all over. A first-rate website, Korea On the Rocks has information in English for alL places in Korea. Stocked with photos, directions and descriptions of climbs, the site is a goldmine for anyone interested in climbing in Korea
Feel like climbing? Drop me an email and we'll plan something.