A visitor rides a horse along the Jeju Olle Trail at Mount Songak on Jeju Island. Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization
The Year of the Red Horse, which comes around once every 60 years in the traditional zodiac cycle, invites residents and international visitors to seek out journeys that feel as bold and restless as the animal itself.
Leaning into that fiery momentum, the Seoul Tourism Organization (STO) spotlights a trio of horse-themed urban walks in the capital, while beyond Seoul, classic sunrise peaks and “island of horses” Jeju offer their own ways to greet the new year’s zodiac animal on the road.
A mountaintop observatory at Mount Yongma in Seoul / Courtesy of Seoul Tourism Organization
New Year dawn hike on Mount Yongma
On Seoul’s eastern edge, Mount Yongma rises as one of the city’s most beloved and accessible sunrise hikes — an ideal spot to usher in the new year with energy and promise. Its name, meaning “dragon horse,” recalls legends of a mythical steed said to have taken flight from Yongma Park, as well as its historic link to royal stables in the foothills during the 1392-1910 Joseon era.
Despite its urban surroundings, Mount Yongma retains much of its natural landscape, where hikers may even spot mountain goats along the trail. Accessibility is another draw: proximity to Line 7 stations makes pre-dawn ascents popular with first-time hikers, offering a trail with sweeping views of the Han River, Lotte World Tower and Seoul’s skyline glowing in the morning light.
Opened in late 2025, the Yongma Mountain Skywalk links the peak with Mang-u History & Culture Park along a 160-meter wooden deck that rises up to 10 meters above the forest floor. Nonslip steps and subtle lighting make it safe year-round and especially enchanting at dawn and dusk.
At the foot of the mountain, Yongma Waterfall Park, formerly a quarry, has been transformed into a family-friendly winter playground. Instead of cascading water, the park offers sledding hills, snow play zones and bobsled runs free for visitors under 18, making it a go-to ice-themed destination during the cold season.
Special cuts barbecue restaurants line Majang Meat Market in eastern Seoul. Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization
Barbecue at Majang-dong’s meat market
South of the old royal road, Majang-dong keeps alive the memory of the state-run “yangmajang,” or horse pastures that once supplied the Joseon court and military. As centuries passed and horses lost their military role, the neighborhood transformed with the times around another form of livestock.
Since the Sungin-dong livestock market was relocated here in 1958, the district turned into a hub for meat and livestock trade. The opening of a city-run slaughterhouse in 1961 cemented Majang’s place as the center of livestock distribution for the Seoul metropolitan area. Even after urban redevelopment in the 1990s and the slaughterhouse’s shuttering, Majang Meat Market remains Korea’s largest meat market, handling more than half of Seoul’s meat distribution.
Transparent labeling, high turnover and an array of cuts — from premium hanwoo beef to offal and specialty meats — keep the market’s reputation strong.
Majang-dong may not be one of Seoul’s picturesque neighborhoods, but it offers a vivid glimpse into the city’s working-class spirit and everyday rhythms. The shouts of traders, the sight of fresh cuts changing hands and the aroma of sizzling meat fill its narrow alleys well into the night, inviting curious visitors into a maze of wholesale stalls and barbecue restaurants.
Restaurants line a narrow alley in historic Pimatgol in Seoul’s central Jongno District. Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization
Horse-dodging memories in Pimatgol
In central Jongno, Pimatgol, which in Korean literally means “alley to avoid horses,” began as a byway where commoners in the Joseon era slipped away from aristocrats and officials on horseback traveling along the main boulevard. Stepping aside from hoofbeats and hierarchy, they made this narrow lane their own, a place to walk, linger and live out everyday life at ground level.
What began as a path for survival gradually grew into a lively street filled with taverns, inns and eaters that offered affordable food and open conversation. Flourishing alongside Jongno’s main thoroughfare, Pimatgol became known for simple, satisfying fare such as grilled mackerel, mung bean pancakes and steaming bowls of sundae soup.
Even as the alley’s appearance changed over time, its character as a humble, welcoming gathering place remains.
Much of the original alley disappeared amid downtown redevelopment in the late 2000s, but fragments remain woven into the modern cityscape. Step just off Jongno’s main road and enter the Le Meilleur building, where a narrow passage still fills the lunch-hour crowds waiting for beloved restaurants that relocated inside. Nearby, Gwanghwamun’s D-Tower recreates the cozy atmosphere of alley dining with compact eateries on its lower floors, while the Leema Building’s lobby displays artworks recalling Pimatgol’s horse-related origins.
The sun rises over a sea of clouds at Mount Mai in Jinan, North Jeolla Province. Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization
‘Horse-ear’ sunrise among sea of clouds at Mount Mai
Rising 686 meters above sea level in Jinan, North Jeolla Province, Mount Mai was named from its twin peaks that resemble a horse’s ears — a fitting destination to mark the Year of the Red Horse. The mountain has become especially sought after as a New Year’s sunrise spot, with travelers using the zodiac for motivation to seek out its dramatic silhouette at dawn.
Among hikers and photography enthusiasts, interest is centering on the viewpoint featured in the Korea Tourism Organization’s 2025 photo contest, where the sun appears between the two main peaks, Ammaibong and Sutmaibong, as a sea of clouds drapes the ridgeline. The sunrise shooting point is located at Gwangdaebong in Maryeong Township, a peak said to resemble a clown laughing with its mouth wide open when seen from the village below.
For those planning a full sunrise traverse, a popular route starts at the entrance to Hapmisanseong, climbs up to Gwangdaebong, continues over Bongdubong and Ammaibong, passes by Tap Temple and then descends to the southern parking lot. The 10-kilometer trail features frequent ascents and descents over rocky roads and visitors are advised to feature proper gear and outdoor wear.
Some sections of the trail may close depending on weather and safety conditions. Details are available at the Mount Mai Provincial Park website.
A horse grazes on grass near the Seongsan Ilchulbong tuff cone in Jeju. Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization
Royal ranches, riding trails, horsemeat tables on ‘island of horses’
Jeju, long known as Korea’s “island of horses,” is where the Year of the Red Horse naturally leads. Windswept grasslands on the shoulders of Mount Halla once held state-run ranches that supplied the royal court, and today the same mid-mountain meadows host museums, festivals and riding trails that repackage that history into approachable experiences.
At Jeju Horse Park in Seogwipo, visitors can trace 600 years of horse culture on the former site of Gammajang, a royal stud farm that raised some of the kingdom’s finest mounts. A compact horse museum, paddock rides, feeding programs and Mongolian-style yurts turn the park into a low-pressure introduction to Jeju ponies for families and first-time riders.
Those looking to swap the paddock fence for open views can head to Jeju Equestrian Park in Aewol, where long trekking routes cut cross mid-slope pastures with Halla’s lava domes on the horizon. Courses range from gentle loops for beginners to extended rides that offer slow travel on horseback, backed by instructors and safety gear.
Smaller ranches scattered around Songdang and the island’s eastern plains offer rain-or-shine rides, meadow courses and short ranch loops that fit easily into a day of rental-car sightseeing.
Jeju’s connection with horses also extends to gastronomy, with specialty restaurants across the island serving locally raised horse meat as sashimi, grilled cuts and hearty stews that highlight a controversial but deeply rooted regional food culture.
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