Mt. Mudeung

Mudeungsan
A pavilion on the mountain during winter
Highest point
Elevation	1,187 m (3,894 ft)
Coordinates	35°08′21″N 126°59′33″E / 35.1392°N 126.9925°E / 35.1392; 126.9925Coordinates: 35°08′21″N 126°59′33″E / 35.1392°N 126.9925°E / 35.1392; 126.9925
Geography
Mudeungsan South Korea
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised Romanization	Mudeungsan
McCune–Reischauer	Mutŭngsan

Mudeungsan is a mountain in South Korea. It extends over the district of Buk-gu in the city of Gwangju, Hwasun County and Damyang County in the province of Jeollanam-do. Mudeungsan has an elevation of 1,187 m (3,894 ft). Mudeungsan is a part of Mudeungsan National Park, which gained national park status in 2012. The summit of Mudeungsan is named Cheonwang summit. However, after being designated as a protection zone for air force military installations, the highest spot climbers can ascend without special permission is Seoseokdae Rock at an elevation of 1,100 m (3,609 ft).

Looking from the summit, Hallasan in Jejudo, and Geojedo in Namhae, Gyeongsangnam-do Province can be seen.

The mountain was known as "Moo Ak" or "Moo Jin Ak" due to its location in , the former name for Gwangju. As most of the big mountain ranges are related to shamanism, it was also called "the Grave Mountain" or "the Shaman Mountain". The Moodeungsan range is primally composed of soil rather than rocks. It was called "Seo Seok" mountain during the Goryeo dynasty. It was after the introduction to Buddhism in Korea that it was called "Moodeung san". People believed the grand tower of the mountain cannot be compared to the mankind. This is interpreted through understanding the roots of the name through Chinese "Hanja." The name comes from Gwangju's original name, Moodeul or Moodol. The "Jin" in Moojin is read through the Chinese roots in characters, but in the past, Deul or Dol is read through native roots in Korean. Moo Deung is also similar transliteration. There is also a placed called "Soo Ip ee" so there are more circumstantial evidences.

On 22 May 1972, Mudeungsan was designated as a provincial park. On 29 April 1974, the government notified a basic park plan (the 61st notification of Jeollanamdo). On 1 September 1987, the government installed the Mudeungsan Park Administrative Office. On 24 September 1998, the government established a comprehensive plan about conservation and use of Mudeungsan. On 7 December 2001, the government changed the basic park plan. On 24 December 2010, the city of Gwangju filed a petition to the minister of environment to designate Mudeungsan as a national park. On 31 December 2012, Mudeungsan was designated as a national park. On 4 March 2013, the government installed Mudeungsan national park office and east office. On 3 December 2015, the government notified withdrawal of military bases.