Cycling in Korea Images

Welcome to Korean-World.

If you are interested in 24 hour endurance rides on the peninsula and have an interest in visiting the East Coast, this is the ride for you. In 24 hours, on the flawless paved Highway 7 (ASIAN HIGHWAY dubbed in South Korea), you can launch from Sokcho or Gangneung and ride the coast all the way to Busan, Gyeongsannam-do. It's my favorite all-time ride in South Korea.

4 Rivers Bike Path (South Korea) route completed in 2011.
This is a must-do-bucket-list for Expats and Koreans Cycling in Korea.
You can find more information here, photo stories from others who have completed their journeys.


Korea Cycling Trip - Seoul to Busan - 2012 // 서울 - 부산 자전거 여행 - 대한민국 2012 from Chris Ambridge on Vimeo.

View Larger Map (S24O is a Sub-24 hour Overnight adventure also known as a Micro Adventure - a great way for arranging the explorer with their free weekends. Here are some local photos (below) of Chris Kobrynski in Gangwon-do and other photos from a S24O trip I completed from Gangneung-Pohang. 24 hours, 250km. 
I love taking overnight camping trip by mountain bike.

 Chris is an awesome daily cyclist, he commuted 40km/day, 200km a week in Gangwon-do, Korea

 Matthew and Sierra are getting their roll on at Gyeongpo Lake Park, Gangneung

 Korean bronze statues at Gyeongpo Lake Park, Gangneung.

 Hmm. Not sure what's happening here?

 Matthew is having a blast, we watched MongoliaX videos together, he said, "I want to take a bike trip!"

 Well, thumbs up for freedom 

 Matthew is growing up into a cool dude

Ultralight Flight Powered Parachute, Gyeongpo Beach, Gangneung, Gangwon, South Korea 

 Night cycling around the lake reservoir on the 1994 KONA Explosif

Some equipment choices I used in 2012...
New Lynskey M240S post-expedition Mongolia. New weinmann 26" wheels, Schwalbe Marathon tires

I rode to many beaches along the Eastern coast of South Korea, I slept in the warm autumn sun. Summer is gone, but we have a few warm days left. From Gangneung City, Gangwon Province, cyclists can start out (Express Buses leave many Korean cities and Gangneung-si is the East Sea connection), it's a rolling ride down Highway 7 Asian Highway to Busan-si in Gyeongsannamdo Province approximately 400km away. More cyclists are using the 4 Rivers Bike Paths to move away from regular traffic on Korean highway roads. I would highly recommend it too!

 I've recoated the Fox Racing RL32 120mm forks with tubes for future racks.

 4:00pm Depart Southbound from Gangneung towards Donghae, Gangwon-do.

 Donghae I + II tunnels are fast rolling spots, top speeds of 58 and 62 km/h

 South Korean road surfaces are 99.9% paved between cities, towns and even farming villages.

 AH6 - Highway 7, Also dubbed the ASIAN HIGHWAY (EAST) and there is another Asian Highway AH1 (West coast) that runs to Mokpo, Jeollanamdo (South Jeolla Province). Should North Korea open to the South, roads are already built to support transportation and trains between South Korea and Russia and China. One day?

 Smooth lines, returning to South Korea from Mongolia

 Donghae is the first city south, about 45 kilometers south of Gangneung (starting point for 24 hours!)

 I tried Bikepacking, the Ortlieb handlebar bag/map case, Small tool frame bag, sleeping bag stuff sack (w/tent). Backpack carried the tent poles, electronics, protein powder, sleeping bag. (:

 Weinmann XM260 are smooth wheels, 36 spoke design incorporates loads of strength (:

 Road hazards in South Korea, see a lot of passing vehicles in urban areas of New Highway 7

 Trucks and buses and cars...machines, oh my!

 Roads are safe, wide curbs for cyclists to ride through

 For the first day, I am riding south of Uljin, 150km goal until camp!

 One of several tunnels that eventually lead into Gyeongsanbukdo Province.

 Nice shot of the Asian Highway, a dream for South Koreans who wanted to travel overland.

 Gravity

 Night cycling with reflective Schwalbe Marathon 26x1.5 kevlar tires 

(100 psi max air pressure, mine set to 70 psi)

 Clearly marked goals for your destination in South Korea

 Gravity

 Fantastic restaurant in Wondeok. When you get down here, stop in for amazing (cheap) meals!

 Uljin-gun (county), Gyeongsanbuk-do (North Gyeongsan Province) Watch out when crossing the tunnel into Gyeongsanbuk-do, there is a police station on the southbound side of the highway,
Cycles prohibited (alternate route is parallel, the Old Highway 7!)

 Now within sight are several new targets all within 200km

Tunnels are amazing on the East Coast - Hwy 7 is deserted for Night Cycling (Recommended) 

 Blasting the 400 lumen Cygolite Expilion  

 Tunnels are sweet when the roads are deserted of machines (cars, buses, etc)

 Intercity camp. S24O (Sub-24 hour Overnight) Adventures

 This tent donated by Gareth Z filled up with ground water overnight, but I floated on a Thermarest.

 And just ahead, Buddha was watching over me.

 South Korea's East Coast highway 7 is a good place to explore for 24 hours (250km).

 I can't believe this is pavement!

 South Korea, Gangneung, Donghae, Samcheok, Uljin, Pohang Route - 250km in 24 hours.

 Rice patties and a senior citizen on his electric scooter through the Old Highway 7, another sweet route!

 This is a modest meal in Korea, complete with fried fish, 2 bowls of rice and assorted Kimchi side dishes

 Rice is firming up on tall stalks in the fields. In a few weeks, these will be golden.

 Navigation made easy, bilingual signs - GPS not-essential, Maps are good.

 Stone statues outside a private home, and his choice of vehicles USMC Hummer

 I believe those are bullet Proof windows and armored doors.

 Rest spots for cyclists or farmers. Good camp location in the rainy weather.

This is the land of the rice and water. South Korea.

12 Useful bits for Cycling in South Korea: 

1. Free tourist maps of all areas of Korea, and locally in Gangneung, Gangwon-do, or complete maps of South Korea are available at the tourist information center at the northwest corner of Gyeongpo Lake Park, there is a bicycle/walking path circumnavigating the entire lake with expansion work being completed in the fall 2012.
2. Carry bicycle headlights, use 700 or 400 lumens for visibility. Cygolite Expilion models are A+
3. Use a bicycle carrier rack on MTB (mountain bikes). Attach flat-pannier racks to the front forks.
4. Use Kevlar-protected tires like the Schwalbe Marathon 26x1.5-2.0 sizes for ordinary MTBs.
5. Carry a bicycle lock, or two. Consider purchasing a bicycle motion alarm, priceless for parking/overnight in saunas. You should bring bikes inside for safety.
6. Carry a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, tent for overnight camping on Micro Adventures.
7. Sleep at public saunas (Jim-jil-bangs), cheap hotels or rooms in houses (Min-baks).
8. Use your imagination, pack some raisins, extra water (3-6 liters), and cash/CC.
9. Travel in South Korea is safe, but watch for traffic when crossing through cities and towns. Lock your bike, remove your seat, lock wheels to prevent theft!
10. Rural Korea has 99.9% paved roads between villages and rice patties, take the road less traveled
11. Enjoy free camping while adventure cycling in Korea. Ride with a helmet, cycling gloves, a reflective vest too! Camping is free in rural areas, locals will not bother.
12. Take showers at Jim-Jil-Bangs (Public sauna/guesthouses in Korean towns and cities, average 7-10,000 per night, you can sleep there for 24 hours and they also provide your clothing. 
13. Use a GPS and follow the 4 Rivers Bike Path from Seoul to Busan (Mapmyrides.com)
14. More route ideas:  Seoul-Seoraksan National Park (2-3 days via Chuncheon (stay at Jimjilbang-public sauna, or hotel), start at the Han River and ride East!)
15. WEST COAST TOURING SOUTH KOREA: Incheon-Songdo-Oido-Daebudo (land bridge) ride the island, stay at a Pension. Day two ride Daebudo and continue south to Suwon (stay in a Jimjilbang-public sauna). Day three ride from Suwon to Pyeongtaek, Cheonan (Sauna or continue West) to Daecheon Beach (Home of the Boryeong Mud Festival), Stay at Minbak or Pension. Day four, continue south from Daecheon Beach towards Mokpo, you can ride through to Byeongsanbando National Park on Day 5, or continue to Mokpo on Day 6.

Need more route ideas - I have another page in development, soon to have Google Maps!

Relative distances and locations across South Korea.
Route 1: Seoul to Gangneung
Route 2: Seoul to Daejeon, Daegu, Busan

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Route 3: Seoul to Mokpo
View Cycling in Korea in a larger map