Gongnyong Ridge is one of Seoraksan's most exhilarating hiking routes — a narrow, serrated granite arête that requires careful navigation along a series of fixed chains, ladders, and rope sections. The ridge connects Madeungnyeong Pass with the higher park trails, and sections involve exposed traverses on very narrow rock with significant drops on both sides. It is not a dangerous route for confident walkers, but it is genuinely challenging and unsuitable for those with a fear of heights or in poor weather.
The traverse typically takes two to three hours and is best done as part of a full day's hiking in the park. The views along the ridge are superb — the jagged granite peaks stretching in both directions, with the Oesorak valley below and the sea visible on clear days. The route is most popular in autumn, when the foliage colours set the granite ridges in spectacular relief.