[This Person] Why Did Park Kyum-su, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, Start the Pilot Operation of the Uidong Mountain Culture Hub (H·U·B)?

Facility Featuring Experiential Elements on Himalaya, Um Hong-gil, and Bukhansan... 3,800㎡ on B2, Including Mountain Experience Center, Um Hong-gil Exhibition Hall, Special Exhibition Room, Photo Zone, and More

Gangbuk-gu Mayor Park Gyeom-su (left) is having a conversation with Professor Kim Du-gyu while climbing Bukhansan.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Park Gyeom-su, the mayor of Gangbuk-gu, is drawing attention for his efforts to promote mountain culture by reflecting the characteristics of the area at the foot of Bukhansan Mountain.

Gangbuk-gu will begin a pilot operation of the mountain culture hub in Uidong starting on the 26th.

The hub (H·U·B), a kind of mountain exhibition and experience center, is a space themed around ‘Himalaya’, ‘Um Hong Gil’, and ‘Bukhansan’. The first letters of these three keywords in English form the name HUB. This facility is also a donation facility from the Uidong recreational area project (resort condominium), which resumed after seven years in July 2019.

The mountain culture hub is built on two basement floors covering 3,800㎡ (1,800㎡ for the experience center and 2,000㎡ for parking).

Inside the facility are arranged ▲mountain experience center ▲Um Hong Gil exhibition hall ▲planned exhibition room ▲photo zone ▲rest areas. Last year, based on a basic planning service, the outline of the facility’s interior was drawn after several discussions with advisory committees. It was designed as a space with new features beyond a typical exhibition and experience center. It embodies the concept of a place to nurture novice mountaineers.

The mountain experience center has introduced training systems based on augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Visitors can train their physical strength here and learn the basic knowledge needed to become mountaineers. A guide appears on the virtual and augmented reality screens to teach how to read maps, use hiking equipment, and walk correctly. It also explains how to respond to various emergency situations.

One corner of the experience center is set up as an area to develop endurance, agility, and flexibility. Users wear backpacks and complete tasks or cross uneven obstacles as part of their training. They improve agility by zigzag running on ladder graphics drawn on the floor. There is a long bouldering wall where visitors can also train muscle strength through sport climbing. Bouldering refers to climbing a 6 to 7-meter-high rock wall without any equipment.

The Um Hong Gil exhibition hall combines indoor rock climbing equipment (climbing machines) with a Himalaya virtual reality program. During the program, users can indirectly experience climbing Mount Everest by following the voice guidance of Captain Um while climbing the rock climbing equipment. Strong winds blow from all directions intermittently to simulate the climate similar to the Himalayas. The exhibition hall also features a 360-degree panoramic video system showing the breathtaking scenery of the Himalayas and the history of life-risking mountain challenges. Visitors can also view the climbing gear used by Captain Um Hong Gil during his Himalaya expeditions.

During the pilot operation period, visitors can enjoy free admission and experiences without separate reservations. However, the number of simultaneous users may be limited according to social distancing guidelines. After opening, some programs will be operated for a fee. The hub is scheduled to officially open at the end of next month. It is conveniently located near the terminus station of the Uisinseol urban railway.

Park Gyeom-su, mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, “The hub is an experiential facility born from the fusion of mountain culture and the spirit of challenge,” adding, “We will make it an essential course and a key location that tourists and mountaineers visiting the Seoul area must visit.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.