[One Day 10,000 Steps One Day 1,000 Characters] If Visiting National Parks This Week, 'Eco-Friendly Exploration' Recommended

From the 4th to the 10th is the ‘National Park Carbon Neutrality Week.’ It is a time to enjoy various carbon-neutral experiential activities while exploring national parks. National parks are representative carbon sinks and valuable heritage to pass on to future generations. Now in its third year, the National Park Carbon Neutrality Week operates various events and experiential activities aimed at reducing carbon footprints and waste generation, with the theme of low-carbon, eco-friendly exploration and practicing the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R)’ principles. 3R stands for ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycling.’

Starting from the 4th, the ‘National Seasonal Treasure Hunt Project (Autumn Edition)’ is being operated to allow anyone to easily participate in monitoring changes in natural ecosystems caused by climate change. To participate, citizens simply need to take photos of observed species within national parks and register the location information via the mobile app (Kaeda). Participants in this project can receive rewards within the app.

Ecological experience event held at Bukhansan [Photo by Korea National Park Service]

The Korea National Park Service and Korea Tourism Organization are promoting an eco-friendly exploration campaign. Those who practice eco-friendly exploration in national parks (using reusable containers, practicing plogging, taking their own trash back) and submit certification photos online (separately guided on the Korea National Park Service website) will receive coffee gift coupons. In addition, various carbon-neutral experiential events will be held at national parks nationwide, including △(low-carbon, eco-friendly exploration) carbon-neutral walking, eco-friendly camping, and eco-friendly lunch provision, and △(3R practice) coffee grounds recycling experience, junk art making, and plastic collection.

Employees of Tongyeong City, Hansan-myeon, and the Eastern Office of Hallyeohaesang National Park are conducting environmental cleanup activities at Maemuldo Beach in June 2021.
[Photo by Tongyeong City]

Unique events are also held by park. In Jirisan Jeonnam, carbon-neutral walking and Hwaeom Valley cleanup activities take place, while in Gyeongju, the Samneung Forest low-carbon, eco-friendly exploration program is held. In Gyeryongsan, there is a carbon-absorbing plant making experience; in Sogrisan, activities involve picking up buried trash from high-altitude areas; and in Taeanhaean, companion beach cleanup activities are conducted. In Bukhansan, there is plogging (picking up trash + walking) on the Uiryeong Trail with a natural environment guide, and in Mudeungsan, a senior ranger (Mountain Grandpa) leads an experience of creating upcycled playgrounds using discarded materials. In Sobaeksan, environmental cleanup activities are conducted while hiking with foreigners.

Song Hyung-geun, Director of the Korea National Park Service, said, "Carbon neutrality is not difficult; it starts with small actions like reducing single-use products," adding, "We will do our best to foster a culture of carbon neutrality practice in national parks across Korea."

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