Following K-Pop and K-Food, 'K-Deungsan' Gains Popularity... Increased Foreign Visitors at Seoul Hiking Tourism Center

Seoul Tourism Foundation Operates Centers at Three Locations Including Bukhansan
One in Three Visitors to Hiking Tourism Centers Is a Foreigner

The Seoul Tourism Foundation, under the Seoul Metropolitan Government, announced on the 10th that out of a total of about 40,000 visitors to the 'Seoul Urban Hiking Tourism Centers,' approximately 17,600 were foreigners. This means that one out of every three visitors was a foreigner.

The Seoul Urban Hiking Tourism Centers offer services such as hiking gear rental, luggage storage, and changing rooms, as well as hiking course guidance and hiking experience programs. Currently, there are three centers in operation: Bukhansan, Bugaksan, and Gwanaksan. The Bukhansan Center was the first to open in September 2022, followed by the Bugaksan Center in April of this year. The Gwanaksan Center began pilot operations on the 1st of this month.

Seoul City Center for Urban Hiking Tourism's Bukhansan Yeongbong Autumn Foliage Trail Course Experience Program
[Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Government, Yonhap News]

The Bukhansan Center, which started operations first, is located near Bukhansan Ui Station on the Ui-Sinseol Line. Reflecting the characteristics of Bukhansan, the only national park within Seoul’s urban area with steep sections, the center rents out safety equipment such as crampons and hiking sticks. This year alone, over 1,300 items have been rented. Additionally, the center operates experience programs linked to an indoor climbing gym established inside the building.

The Bugaksan Center is housed in a traditional Korean house in Samcheong-dong, providing facilities where visitors can take a short break from touring Seoul’s downtown areas such as Gwanghwamun Square and Gyeongbokgung Palace to enjoy a brief hike or picnic. The center rents out light hiking gear such as raincoats, arm sleeves, and camping chairs, which has been well received by tourists. On the second floor, the Hanok Lounge offers special programs that foreigners can participate in, including Korean calligraphy, making Bugaksan-shaped soap, and traditional liquor brewing experiences, promoting the charm of Korean culture.

The Gwanaksan Center, which began pilot operations on the 1st, is located on the basement first floor of Gwanaksan Station on the Sillim Line, offering excellent accessibility. The center reflects the appearance of Gwanaksan by placing rocks throughout the space, and the lounge features sensory elements such as the continuous sound of flowing water and the scent of the mountain. Within just one week of pilot operation, the center attracted over 3,000 visitors.

Gil Gi-yeon, CEO of the Seoul Tourism Foundation, said, "The mountains within the city are easily accessible and have relatively gentle trails, making hiking tourism a new trend among many foreigners visiting Seoul recently. We will support more foreigners in obtaining information about K-hiking so that they can fully enjoy Seoul’s attractive mountains."

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