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The breathtaking views from Mt. Seorak National Park in Gangwon province are among the most beautiful in the country, and attract crowds of hikers throughout the year. But for those who have always yearned for something more, the Mangyeongdae, in the southern part of Mt. Seorak, opened for the general public on Oct. 1 for the first time in 46 years.

The Mangyeongdae, which, when translated, means a spot where one can see ten thousand grand views, has been restricted for decades in order to preserve the natural environment. About a week before it opened for the public, this reporter had a chance to make a visit.

After entering the southern part of Mt. Seorak’s the Mangyeongdae, the peaks appear as if painted on an unrolled folding screen. Formed by strange rocks and bizarre stones, the scenery looks like an imposing oriental painting. Visitors can enjoy all shapes and forms of Mt. Seorak’s scenery from the Mangyeongdae, located at an altitude of 560 meters (1837 feet).

To make the trip to the Mangyeongdae safe and enjoyable for visitors, Korea National Park Service (KNPS) has installed a safety fence and an observatory deck made of wood, with informative signs to explain the scenery.

“Mt. Seorak has been designated as a national park since March 1970,” said Jeong Chun-ho from KNPS. “So nobody has stepped foot on the the Mangyeongdae for the last 46 years. [KNPS] is very glad to be able to share this beautiful scenery with so many people.”