updated September 2023
Unlike other hiking competitions, the Stamp Tour Passport is sponsored by the Korean National Park Service and doesn’t care if you are going to conquer the tallest peak or just walk around the beautiful forests and valleys. Not only is it a highly accessible challenge for people of all fitness levels but it’s a free challenge that is surprisingly high quality. The booklet is free to get and the challenge offers two award level, with patches and medals for those who start collecting the stamps (no cost for the rewards also!). The challenge booklet has 21/22* national parks listed with representative photos and information with a place for a stamp, making it both a fun competition and an educational experience.
There are two levels of achievement both of which get you a certificate and a medal. All locations are on mainland Korea (not Jeju) and are scattered throughout the country. But that has changed in 2023*
*If you started your booklet pre-2023 then Jeju is not on your challenge but post May 2023, Jeju is one of the stamps you can collect and there are now a total of 22 stamps
The Stamps
Each stamp is unique and is based on the local aspects of the area. Stamps can found at the national park offices with each park having multiple locations that stamps can be acquired from. But you need to arrive at the office during working hours! These locations with their addresses are located in the back of the booklet.
Additionally, it’s important to note that not every park office has the stamps. A mistake I made in Sobaeksan – I didn’t plan well and I went to an office not listed on the website and so while they had the booklet, I didn’t get my stamp. The park offices that are offering stamping services can be seen here. They are also listed in the back five pages of the passport.
Worth noting that the stamp is an ink stamp not a postage sticker so there is no reason to be concerned about them not having enough stamps.
Acquiring the Passport
According to the government website, in 2023 they printed another 100,000 booklets, with more preprints to be made annually going forward. But they are still extremely popular and every year since 2020 they have run out at the most frequented national parks. It’s best to call and ask if the office has them. The offices can be found here . The main phone number for each national park is listed.
Additionally, a national park officer needs to check your ID before giving you the booklet, so you need to ask for one during working hours. This means in order to get a stamp or the booklet you need to arrive at most parks between 9-5 (with few exceptions).
Information displayed in the booklet
Each national park has two pages dedicated to that park, with a wide variety of information listed. Including, famous foods and drinks in the area, recommended tourist spots, the height of the peak, some general information about the area and park and when it became a national park. In addition, if you speak Korean there are also free activities offered at the parks, with the times listed in the booklet.
The Awards and How to Apply
Awards:
Leaf Level: 10 Stamps
If you get stamps from 10 of the 21/22* national parks, you can apply to get the “leaf” award, which grants you a medal, patch and a certificate of achievement. They will also send you this award if you wait to apply at the tree level.
Tree Level: 21 / 22* Stamps
Upon acquiring all 21 stamps you can apply for the ‘tree’ award. You get a certificate of achievement, a patch, a medal and a sense of accomplishment. The generation 2 stamp book (those produced after May 2023) have added Hallasan National Park, which allows people using this new book to apply for the ’22 stamp tree level’. I have been told by KNPS staff that you can not use a mix of two books to acquire an award, so it seems those of us who started pre-2023 can only get the 21 stamp tree level.
You get to keep the passport after finishing the tree level ( 100% confirmed as I applied for tree and kept mine in 09/2023)
How to Apply
You can apply at any national park main office, the list of offices are in the back of the book. The application process is very easy! You walk in and tell them you want to apply. They flip through your book, and you / they fill out a basic form (name, date, award, address) and you are done. Congratulations!
As of September 2023, the wait time for the award is 19 days. But this is subject to change and perhaps inaccurate (the staffer told me this when he processed my application, but there have been many reports of people waiting 2-3 months even in 2023). When I get mine delivered I will update this post with images of the medals and what the real processing / shipping time was as of September 2023.
Happy Trekking!
-Aurora
Do you know if anyone has received any of the leaf or tree awards? I’ve applied at two national parks for my 10 leaf and have never received anything.
I have finished the 21 national parks stamp. Where do I apply for the certificates? Thanks
I would love to have one of these passports. I plan to visit Korea and do as many parks as I can. I am happy to pay for a copy.
Unfortunately it’s not something you can buy online. They are only given out at the National Park ranger offices, but these days they are hard to come by especially in the most popular national parks.I would recommend you ask every office on your trip if they have a copy until you get lucky!