Bouldering in Seoul

[mnd3bdy3sol3]

Right now I am living with family friends teaching them english in Sinchon Rote. You guys anywhere near here? Where are some rocks that I can climb in Seoul or near Seoul? I am willing to take a bus down South. How much are pads? How much is it to climb at a gym? Where is a Skate Board shop?

[hinkadinka]

hi there i have just moved to seoul also and desperate to go bouldering also. i am looking for different groups to go off at weekends with for climbing. i am obbsessed with bouldering, i am here for 12 months so contact me. i have just bought a skateboard back home, not brought it with me but would love to learn so lets go buys some, i will keep looking. email sarahgrant321@yahoo.co.uk

[hinkadinka]

hey rocky folk, i have been here two weeks and icthing to go climb i have not had much outdoor lead climbing but i mainly do indoor. but i need the practice because i am going to do my SPA next year back in the uk. hope to here from you soon. i am looking to go off at weekends over night to spend weekend climbing. so hope to here from you guys

[climbergrrl]

There is some bouldering on rocks near the camping area at Insubong. According to reports, it's pretty good. Although I have never been there myself, I have it on good authority from local and international climbers who are all much better climbers than myself. I am not sure exactly how to get there.

There are a number of indoor bouldering gyms. ACE climbing center (near Daerim St.), Son Jeong Joon's climbing center (near Oksu St., Eungbong outdoor wall - if you go there, someone can probably show you, it's really close), one in Jaeggi-dong and a new one near Jamsil (The Top) are all really great ones, and some of the bigger ones. Fees usually range from 60,000-70,000 won per month.

Don't know about pads. Sorry.

There is a good skateboard shop in Itaewon. It's called Tussa. It's on the opposite side of the street from the Hamilton Hotel, but at the end of the street near the entrance to Itaewon market (where that big arch is). It's on the second floor of the building. If you want to find a closer one, there is a good website called flateen.com, which tells a lot about skateboarding in Korea. If you go to Suwon (a city near Seoul), there are plenty of good skate shops and also some of the best parks in Korea, I think.

Also, a heads-up to everyone. The Asian X-Games are coming to Seoul! This is the first year that they've been held in Korea, or outside of Malaysia at all, I believe. There will be skateboarding, in-line skating, BMX, and of course, sport climbing and bouldering, from May 26-29th. Check it out at asianxgames.com for more info!

Cheers!
Heidi

[hinkadinka]

thanks thats was so helpful. if anyone is interested in doing some bouldering ect that would be great. i have not brought any of my things with me harness, shoes, rope etc so is there a club and we can hire or what. thanks again fro advice wicked, just want to go but next four weeks i am busy scuba diving. but anyone wants to hook up that would be great

[climbergrrl]

Most gyms have shoes that you can borrow or rent. I don't know of any rental shops if you are heading outdoors. You can buy good shoes for pretty good prices at the climbing market in Dongdaemun, Seoul. (Get off the blue subway line at Jongno-5-ga, go out exits 5/6 and there are plenty of great shops within a half block radius.)

Don't know anything about scuba, but was looking into it once. If you need or want any more information, scubainkorea.com might be good. :)

D

[mnd3bdy3sol3]

Thank you so much! if any of yalls wants to meet up my email is james.choi@saintleo.edu . im starting this intership over at this travel agency but i really dont like it. but if you give me a day in advance i can most likely ditch that ****. haha. ummmm i might be going to the gyms and checking out which one i like the most. i also want go up to the park up north of seoul. ill c y a peeps around.
later
~~~choi~~~

[littlebrady]

Hi there, I'm living with Hinkadinka girl and was just asking her about beginners courses for rock climbing. I've only had a go at climbing once and loved it but have no idea what I'm doing so need some lessons. Does anyone know of any courses in the Seoul area? Also, completely unrelated but it's always worth asking....anyone interested in kayaking and know of any places in the country? Would be great if anyone has any advice or ideas. Thanks

[mnd3bdy3sol3]

Does anybody have any crash pads?

[climbergrrl]

Littlebrady,

Hi! This Saturday (May 21st) I am going kayaking with a couple of friends on the Naerimcheon, a small river (stream?) near Inje. I am a beginner (only 2-3 times) but my friends are very experienced. Mr. Kim just became the captain of Korea's national kayaking team.

Anyway, including rentals, lessons and accomodations (but not food), it costs about 100,000 won a day (less after you become a memeber/no longer need lessons/rentals).

We will leave EARLY Saturday morning and stay at the clubhouse on Saturday night. My friends will probably kayak on Sunday as well, but I have to come back early. Transportation can probably be arranged.

Are you a very experienced kayaker? Korea has some great whitewater, (from the reports of my paddling acquaintances, some of whom are really good paddlers from the States - I wouldn't know).

If you are interested, let me know ASAP. You can call me at 016-9223-1369. Or, if this is too short of notice, hopefully you can join us later this summer. Take care!

Heidi

Also, in case anyone is interested, Chelsea is playing the Suwon Blue Wings at World Cup Stadium in Suwon THIS Friday (May 20th) at 7! Tickets are about 6,000 won. It should be a good game!

[littlebrady]

Hey, hey,

Wow that sounds awesome, but this Saturday I'm actually going to the DMZ and then bungee jumping on Sunday, so gutted I can't make it.

I'm not experienced in any way, just had a paddle around in New Zealand a bit and loved it, so would be so cool to join you and your friends at some point. I eventually would love to get some qualifications in Kayaking and so need to start somewhere!

My friend is also interested so any future trips you have it would be great if you would drag us along. We are well up for it.

My cell phone is 010 8699 3030. So anytime you have any plans, give me a call.

Have a good one this weekend :) :)

[hinkadinka]

hi guys i am littlebrady mates sarah. well totally the kayaking thing awesome. my boyfrined in uk is a kyking instructor but he is not here until winter snowboarding but little brady and i are totally interesd. we are meeting choi tommoz night in beaoumgae for a drink if anyfolk want to meet its line four.

you have little bradys number mine is also 01086958860 we are up for a wicked summer. just having lots of fun climbing, kyaking, jamming if anyone wants to jam or form a band lets get it togther,

i am doing an exhbition inleeds uk about the whole korean experience so i want folk to take photos of and paint so should be great. anyways looking forward to it.

we are signed up for the adventurekorea thing this sunday if yal want to come. as for climbing itching to get going.

see yas laters

sarah xx

[climbergrrl]

Hi Littlebrady and Sarah!

Had a great time paddling on the Naerimcheon last weekend! Well, actually, I spent most of my time trying to remember how to roll, ^^ however, got it back eventually, so it was all good in the end. The water was a bit low (I felt so bad for all of those poor raft guides hung up on the rocks!), but the paddling was still great.

Thinking about heading that way again the long weekend in June (4/5/6th?) and toward the end of July (21st-24th). Will probably stay at the clubhouse near Hannam (near Inje in Gangwon-do) and paddle various spots on the Naerimcheon. The water should also be a lot higher then. Let me know if you're interested, (anyone else that might be into kayaking is welcome to join also). You are welcome to use the club equipment and stay at the clubhouse there for a small fee. It's rustic, but can be really fun. Lessons can be arranged too. Mr. Kim is one of Korea's best kayakers, he is an international judge and sometime competitor, as well as being Korea's new national team judge (the national team was created this year). Plus, the other members of the club are skilled kayakers, too. And safety seems to be a priority for them, which is always reassuring, although I will be the first to admit that I am not well-versed on international kayaking safety standards.

Anyway, take care, hope your adventuring is going well. :)

Cheers,
Heidi

[hinkadinka]

hi there. well i really want to come. i am on a scuba diving course on the sat and sunday but finsh at five so can i get there after that for the sunday night and monday. if you want to email me its sarahgrant321@yahoo.co.uk not to sure what little brady up to but she is sat here so will ask in a moe.

how far is it, i am so up for kyaking because my boyfriend in uk is an instructor so when he comes over i want to be good but when i get back i want to gain my star awards.

what do you reckon. hope to here from about that weekend, i am scubaing on sat and sun but can come after that fro sun nite and monday.

sarah

[hinkadinka]

will deffinatley do the weekend of the 21st-24th july.

just keep us posted on kyaking trips and climbing. i am just tied up in the next three weekends with the scuba diving. my phone number is 01086958860 july one would be better i reckon or anytime after the 12th june.

if there is a club of kyakers do you know the email.

;looking forward to meeting you folk.

bring on the rock and the water.

hinkadinka (sarah )

[hinkadinka]

hi everyone

i was wondering i live in ui-wang near anyang, there is a climbing wall there at the sports centre but i have no idea how to get to it etc. if anyone knows that would be great, also.

there is some park in seoul where you can boulder and its shut when its raining but don't know what thats called, does anyone have any ideas, which are the good ones that are open on a weekend especially for couldering . i have not got my harnes or anything but if i get shoes and chalk i can boulder etc.

money tight. but i really need to practice lead climbing at some point this summer.

if anyone can let me know about the anyang sports centre and how much it is in the crimp gym, hoping to meet with james choi to climb.

i have been to xgames looks cool. and i am itching to be climbing again.
so anywhere thats cheap would be great. i need to be climbing i the next week or two. thanks dudes.

sarah xx

[bvoborsky]

Cheap shoes, take line 1 to Jongno 5-ga, exit 5, and take the first alley on the right. After 50m you'll see the first shop, take your next right and there is a shop that has 5.10's on sale for 37,000 (v10, anasazi, moccasym, ascent etc).


The Crimp:
Drop in 1st time 6,000원 / 토,일 7,000원
a month: 70,000원
6m: 360,000원
1 year: 720,000원

MON,TUE,THU,FRI AM 6시 ~ PM 11시
WED PM 5시 ~ PM 10시

[hinkadinka]

thanks for that. i got some shoes and chalk. just wish i had my babys from home, anyways, i have found a small and cool gym in anyang near where i live which is cool. but because of the summer coming up, i am desperate to be going side to buolder, when i first got here there was a website about a small park in seoul it was for bouldering and it was open everyday except when it rained. does anyone know whaere this is.

i want to get you most weekends bouldering and climbing, but because i ma new here i am slightly nervous of just goint to remote places on my own etc so if a there is anyone who wants to go that would be cool.

sarah
email me sarahgrant321@yahoo.co.uk

[curious_j]

BOULDERING AROUND INSUBONG--This reply is late, but there are at least two areas for bouldering around Insubong. (1) around the camping area near the police station hut and another building. (2) At the base of Insubong there are a few tough problems. One is a V11 that Chris Sharma flashed when he was here for the Anasazi Festival. I didn't see him do that problem, but I saw two Koreans working the line later and they said he'd flashed it. To get in the general area, turn right on the trail that heads off a little before the camping area. The flat face with diagional crack is to the left of the 1st pitch of Insubong.(3) Secret Area 51. After the day of bouldering, Chris and his friend said they went off the trail and found some really nice problems. He wouldn't be any more specific than that. But it seemed like they were off the main trail toward Baekundae rather than toward Insubong, but that's pretty iffy. Take a pad and go exploring. (And if you find out where to get bouldering pads here, let me know.)

BOULDERING AROUND BURAMSAN--There are some easy problems in the myriad of small trails leading up Buramsan. But they're too hard to describe. I have a couple goofy pictures if you want to check the place out. They won't be showing up here or rockclimbing.com anytime soon!

BOULDERING AROUND DOBONGSAN--There are a few nice, big, boulders heading up the main trail at Dobongsan. I was messing around on one with approach shoes and a climber stopped in to demonstrate. I think he called it 5.9, but our communication was the smoothest--no bolts. Back in the trails were a few more problems that were a bit beyond me, at least without a little stack of pads. Some are bordering on highballing, and well, I guess that says something about me. Say no more.

All that said, I don't get out to it nearly enough. Life is busy. I hope you have a lot of fun, and keep sharing beta.

Peace.

[hinkadinka]

hey there duder, well just wondering if you fancy going to those places at some point in the next four weeks. i really need to get out and about on the rocks its mainly gym climbing.

let me know

sarahgrant321@yahoo.co.uk

[grande]

Ya so I plan to go to Insubong this weekend on Sunday. I am going to take a lot of pictures and try to find some climbs with nice landings cause I won't have a pad. Pretty much, if I find enough bouldering I will pay for my pad to be shipped out here. If that is expensive, then I will buy a new pad here. I will talk to the owners of Tagy climbing gym to see if they can order one for me. ya I'm going to do that, having a second pad doesn't hurt anything except my wallet a little.

I went to the International Zen Center in Seoul a few weeks ago and afterwards I hiked around in the mountain behind the center and found some problems. Really there are boulders all over Korea and the boulderers of Korea need to create a stronger scene.

The zen center is at Hwa Gye Sa Temple, 487 Su Yu 1 Dong, Kang Buk Gu, 142-071 Seoul, South Korea.

HEY THE MORE SPOTTERS THE BETTER! Anyway who wants to boulder this Sunday give me a call or email ahead of time:

010 437 80511

[hinkadinka]

hey there, i am in seorackson this weekend, gutted but next weekend would be great if your into the bouldering i love bouldering, i would be free sunday and monday i think thats the holiday my mobile is 01086958860 call me about 2nd october or the 3rd i will be at seorackson camping out.

anyways hope to here from you my email is sarahgrant321@yahoo.co.uk

laters hinka dinka

[grande]

http://www.koreaontherocks.com/search.php?type=1&area_name=47

ya so there is tons of bouldering all over korea but no one has documented.. at least to my knowledge.

I just went up to the closest mountain to me in Seoul and boom I was all surrounded by boulders.

I am going to buy a crash pad soon.. next pay check.

What is the deal? Why hasn't anyone done this before?

GO EXPLORE!


ya if anyone wants to be a legend just start going up the mountains around Seoul and beyond and just start climbing the boulders and naming them and put together a guide.

[kigga34]

hey i just got to seoul and checked out the top at jamsil. i could use a bouldering partner if anyone's up for it. i'm a little confused on how the holds are marked in the gym too. in the US, it's labeled by colors, both feet and hands. how is it labeled here? it seems that it goes by numbers, hands only. does that mean footholds can be used anywhere? plus, aside from the holds, weights and all that are prety nonexistent. how do you all keep up non-climbing conditioning? e.g.: weightlifting, cardio, etc.

[Eric]

Welcome to Korea and KOTR!

i'm a little confused on how the holds are marked in the gym too. in the US, it's labeled by colors, both feet and hands. how is it labeled here? it seems that it goes by numbers, hands only. does that mean footholds can be used anywhere?In the gyms I have been to here in Korea usually only the handholds are marked, usually with tape. Usually the feet aren't marked and you are allowed to put your feet anywhere. Sometimes at my gym they'll set up short bouldering routes where both hands and feet are marked, but these routes are usually short and hard, hence the name, bouldering route.


plus, aside from the holds, weights and all that are prety nonexistent. how do you all keep up non-climbing conditioning? e.g.: weightlifting, cardio, etc.There are plenty of places to pick up weights and exercise equipment, you'll just need to find a shop that sells sports equipment. They'll usually have some dumbells and small weights like that. They may even have a bench.

I'm not sure where you live because I don't know where Jamsil is but if it's a suburb of seoul, you might check at some of the other gyms (if there are any) in your area. My gym has a small but useful exercise room with some free weights and machines.

But your best option might be to join a regualar (non-climbing) gym. They are usually about 50,000/month but can be as high as 100,000. It just depends on where it is and how much equipment they have. Also, if you live in or around an apartment complex (and usually a less expensive complex) you can sometimes find small gyms with running machines, weight machines and some small free weights for a monthly fee of 5,000. (No i didn't forget a zero) The last 2 apartments i lived in had one of these gyms within a 5 minute walk from my house. There is usually no sign for the gym and the ones i have seen have been above the first floor of the building. You should take a walk around your area and just peak your head into some of the non-descript buildings and see what you can find. I found the last one because I heard the music blarring out the window.

ok, i hope this helps...
eric

[grande]

yo. maybe you should look at some other posts. talk about boudler is all over the place right now.

i have a pad - mad rock- cost me 114,000 at Tagy climbing gym. they sell all madrock equiment for 20% off.

[Eric]

yo. maybe you should look at some other posts. talk about boudler is all over the place right now.I'm not sure what post you are referring to but this thread is nearly 7 months old and it just keeps getting brought back to life. :rolleyes8 The original post/question has been answered. I think we should start a new thread...

...but not before I extend this one's life a little longer... :)

Is that the Tagy in Cheongju? Or is there another Tagy?

[grande]

ya i got a crash pad. a friend of mine has one to. he is on the list.

if there is a posting for a climbing trip on korea the people probably got pads.

we are buying them from Tagy climbing gym in Cheongju for $113