Gwangju City to Open Mudeungsan Summit on October 9

Wishing for the Bid to Host the AI Computing Center
and the Re-Certification of the Global Geopark

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong is climbing to Inwangbong Peak with citizens at the 'Mudeungsan Summit Permanent Opening Ceremony' held at Seoseokdae Area of Mudeungsan on September 23, 2023. Photo by Gwangju City

The Gwangju City Government announced on September 30 that it will open the summit area of Mudeungsan Mountain for the first time this year, with the cooperation of the military unit stationed there, on October 9, the last day of the Chuseok holiday. This opening event is being organized to support the bid to host the National AI Computing Center in Gwangju and to wish for the re-certification of the UNESCO Global Geopark next year.

The summit of Mudeungsan Mountain, which has been off-limits to the general public since a military unit was stationed there in 1966, has remained restricted for over 50 years. Since 2011, special opening events have been held, totaling 26 times as of this year, with approximately 487,000 visitors in total.

This event is separate from Inwang Peak, which has been permanently open since last year, and has been prepared in response to citizens' requests to view the landscape of the Mudeungsan summit. The opening course starts from the columnar joint area near Seoseokdae, passes through the rear gate of the military unit, and allows visitors to view Jiwan Peak and its surrounding scenery. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors must bring identification, and foreign nationals are restricted from entry due to military security reasons.

On the day of the event, key figures such as Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung and Chonnam National University President Lee Geunbae, along with about 100 citizens, will participate in a pinwheel performance, expressing their hopes for attracting the AI Center.

To prevent safety accidents, the city will deploy safety personnel along the trail and at vulnerable points, and will operate a standby system with 119 emergency teams and helicopters. In addition, in cooperation with Buk-gu District Office, Dong-gu District Office, and the police, the city will strengthen crackdowns on illegal parking in major congested areas and increase the frequency of city bus routes 1187 and 1187-1 to improve transportation convenience.

Jung Hyunyun, Director of the Climate and Environment Bureau, stated, "This opening of the summit is a meaningful event to promote Mudeungsan as a world-renowned mountain and to wish for the successful bid for the National AI Computing Center and the re-certification as a UNESCO Global Geopark. We ask for the safe participation and cooperation of all visitors on the day of the summit opening."

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