On the morning of the 16th, at Seoul’s Ui-dong Seoul Hiking Tourism Center in Gangbuk-gu, despite the heat of over 30 degrees Celsius, foreign tourists gathered in small groups. About half of the people coming and going were foreigners from countries like Brazil and Japan. They were dressed in shorts and sleeveless shirts, without any hiking gear. These individuals borrowed hiking shoes from the center, put them on, and headed to Bukhansan. Here, even if you come empty-handed, you can rent hiking shoes and attire to climb the mountain. Hiking shoes can be rented for ￦2,200(US$1=￦1,338). There are also guided hiking experience programs available.
“I came to Seoul to see the city from Bukhansan Mountain and take pictures for Instagram,” said Gan Cheng Kwan, 48, who is traveling with three sons from Malaysia. “I’ve been to many countries around the world, but Korea is the first country that lends out hiking boots to tourists,” said Canadian tourist Christopher Bo, 26. “I plan to go to the city for cold noodles right after the climb.”
Seoul has made the city’s urban mountains, such as Bukhansan, Inwangsan, and Bugaksan, its signature tourist attractions. It will also establish a tourism brand called ‘K-Mountain’ to diversify the demand of foreign tourists, focusing not only on shopping and palace visits but also on hiking. According to Gil Ki-yeon, CEO of the Seoul Tourism Organization, “With the rising popularity of K-Pop, tourists are becoming more curious and interested in experiencing various aspects of Korea, such as its cuisine, fashion, and nature,” noting that hiking is emerging as a new and appealing content.
The key is to enhance accessibility for foreign tourists visiting Seoul with limited time so that they can easily enjoy hiking. This initiative began with the opening of the Seoul Hiking Tourism Center in June of last year. In the current year, a total of 2,407 foreigners have visited the center. While this translates to about 10 visitors per day, the numbers are expected to increase to 20 to 30 visitors per day after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike before, when foreign residents in Seoul were the main users, the trend is now shifting towards an increase in self-guided foreign tourists.
Nationalities are also diverse. Among the 809 foreign participants in this year’s experiential program, Americans accounted for the highest number at 112 (13.8 percent), followed by Singaporeans (13.3 percent), Chinese (9.1 percent), and French (7.9 percent). In terms of age, those in their 20s and 30s comprised 85 percent, with females making up a significant majority at 71 percent compared to males. “There are especially many female foreign tourists in their 20s and 30s who came to the center through social media or smartphone apps,” said Lee Jun-ho, director of the center, adding, “Recently, a group of American female college students hiked in Bukhansan as part of their graduation trip.” On the 9th of last month, 84 early-departing Swiss scout members from Saemangeum Jamboree also visited Bukhansan.
Seoul hiking is already a popular content on ‘Meetup’ and other gathering-sharing apps. Posts like “Let’s go hiking in Bukhansan” quickly attract 10 to 20 participants. A 24-year-old French tourist Marion stated, “While browsing a meetup app during my trip to Seoul, I initially intended to go to Gangnam but ended up in Bukhansan.” With a shift towards tour patterns focused on gatherings and experiences, hiking is gaining attention.
The Seoul Tourism Organization plans to continue expanding hiking tourism centers for foreign tourists. In September, the second hiking tourism center, focusing on Inwangsan and Bukhansan, will open near Cheongwadae (the Blue House) in Jongno-gu. Additionally, there are plans to consider establishing a hiking tourism center in Gwanaksan next year. Starting this second half of the year, various experiential programs will be diversified, including the pilot operation of “ridge climbing” along the Bukhansan ridgeline and trekking around Gyeongbokgung Palace.
There are many reasons why Seoul’s urban mountains are gaining traction. Julia Weatherspoon, 34, said, “In the U.S., you usually have to drive for hours in the city to go hiking, but Seoul’s hikes take half a day and are affordable for budget travelers.” Mr. Mitsui, 40, from Tokyo, Japan, said, “The view of the city from ‘Baekundae in Bukhansan’ is the best in Seoul.”
Photos of the city of Seoul in the background from the rocks of Baekundae are already trending on social media, as are photos of climbing Mt. Inwangsan along the castle walls at night. A representative from the Korea Tourism Organization said, “We plan to attract more Chinese tour groups to the mountain.”
