If you have been around Korea for a while and have the determination to wake up early in the morning, you may have noticed the many Koreans on the subway with their hiking gear on. Hiking and mountain climbing are some of Korea’s favorite pastimes. When I first came to Korea, I was overweight and didn’t have a lot of money for a gym membership. A really good friend of mine said we should hike together. I was dreading exercise, but I was so happy with my decision to do it. I got so into hiking, I lost about 15 kilograms (33 lbs.) over five months. Instead of staying in and working out at the gym, one day a week I do my best to get outdoors and do some hiking. These are my top 3 mountains to climb if you are a novice like how I was.