Mountain Roads and Motorcycles: A Thrilling Ride Across Korea's Scenic Routes

08.01.2025 - 10:36 / matadornetwork.com

I’d been riding my Royal Enfield Classic 350 motorcycle out in the Korean countryside for about six months, the entirety of my riding experience, when I decided it was time to go on my first long-distance motorcycle trip. My partner and I filled our bikes’ side bags with our sleeping bags and camping chairs, tied the tent and our backpacks to the passenger seats, and set off on our coast-to-coast adventure on Korea’s old town mountain roads.

Motorcycles are not allowed on expressways in Korea, so when it’s time to swap the West Coast city bustle of Seoul and Incheon for the sandy beaches and blue oceans of the East Coast (and vice versa), bikers will take one of two roads: Hangyeryeong (Route 44) or Misiryeong (Route 56). Along the way? 5,000 feet in elevation and curves through Korea’s outstanding Seoraksan National Park. The routes are also popular with drivers looking to take the scenic route to see the epic mountain views. I heard these routes were challenging — assumedly because of the increase in travel time compared to the expressways and it being “through the mountains” — but I had very little idea of how literally “through the mountains” they really are.

Photo: Minseok Kim

There’s no better feeling than getting on a motorcycle on a warm day when the sky is blue, the sun is shining, and the wind is just cool enough to feel refreshing on your skin and hair. Particularly when there’s no place you need to be and you can drive to your heart’s content. Riding feels connected to your surroundings and you notice everything: the wind, smells, sounds, the road texture, the small (and bigger) bumps, the machinery of the bike. Hearing the roar of the engine as your hands twist to accelerate is a liberating, addictive feeling.

It wasn’t long on my ride before the highway barriers and gray roads changed to tree trunks, blurred greenery, and imposing rocky mountain walls. Corners started to appear more frequently, each one tighter than the last. I tried to keep everything I’d learned about taking corners in mind: approach slowly, lean in, and slightly accelerate out — gripping the body of the bike with my thighs as if my life depended on it. At first, it was fun, almost like a video game. We were gaining elevation when what could’ve been a nightmare began: getting stuck behind a very slow car struggling with the corners and elevation. It was getting harder to juggle accelerating enough to keep the bike going upright while staying a safe distance from the car in front. Thankfully, the car let us overtake and go ahead at the next straight.

Photo: Minseok Kim

As we were getting higher up the mountain and the roads were getting steeper, the novelty started to wear off and my focus was starting to slack. Obviously,