"No Luck for You" Graffiti Restored at Gwanaksan Madangbawi... District Office Vows Zero Tolerance for Vandalism (Comprehensive)

Restoration of Gwanaksan Graffiti Completed... Measures to Prevent Recurrence Underway
Growing Need for Management Amid Surge in Hikers
Patrol Staff to Be Increased in Response to Vandalism Incidents Such as Graffiti

The Gwanak District Office in Seoul has requested a police investigation and is preparing measures to prevent recurrence in response to the "lacquer graffiti" vandalism incident at Madangbawi, a popular site on Gwanaksan Mountain.

On April 1, the Gwanak District Office announced, "After completing restoration work on the lacquer graffiti left on Madangbawi at Gwanaksan Mountain, we have requested a police investigation." Gwanaksan Mountain is an urban nature park, and acts of vandalism can result in fines of up to 3 million won under the Park Green Space Act.

Staff of the Leisure City Division at Gwanak District Office restoring a rock damaged by graffiti. Gwanak District Office.

Left "Merong Graffiti" and Fled... Public Outrage Over Damage to Gwanaksan Mountain

Recently at Madangbawi, a prominent site on Gwanaksan Mountain, a hiker left the phrase "There is no luck from Gwanaksan Mountain for you. Merong" in yellow lacquer and fled the scene.

In the photo posted on social media, the rock had the phrase "There is no Gwanaksan luck for you, merong" written on it. Screenshot from SNS

This graffiti appears to be a mocking message targeting the recent trend of "refreshing hikes." After a fortune teller stated on a broadcast, "If your luck isn't turning, go to Gwanaksan," the belief that "your luck will open up after climbing Gwanaksan three times" quickly spread on social media. As a result, the area has attracted a surge of young hikers every weekend, with Gwanaksan gaining attention as a new "lucky spot."

This graffiti incident quickly spread on social media platforms such as Threads, intensifying the controversy. Citizens expressed shock and anger, saying, "There wasn't any graffiti even last week, but it suddenly appeared," and "The damage to nature is too severe."

Employees of the Leisure and Urban Development Department at Gwanak District Office are restoring rocks damaged by graffiti. Gwanak District Office

Online criticism of the act also continued. One netizen pointed out, "This goes beyond a prank; it must be punished as it damaged a natural heritage site." Another commented, "With the recent increase in hikers, there are more cases of people ignoring basic etiquette," and called for "stricter enforcement." Some people also suggested measures such as installing cameras or introducing a reward system for reporting violations.

Rising Number of Hikers Highlights Need for Management... 2030s Flocking to Hotspot

Given the high number of visitors, incidents of carving names or writing graffiti on rocks and facilities have repeatedly occurred around Gwanaksan Mountain in the past. Particularly during the busy spring and autumn seasons, similar cases have continued to arise, underscoring the need for ongoing management. Recently, Gwanaksan has emerged as a "city hiking hotspot" among Millennials & Gen Z, leading to a sharp increase in visitors.

Its location in Seoul provides easy access, and the abundance of trails that allow hikers to reach the summit in a relatively short time aligns with the demand for "light hiking," making it especially popular. In addition, panoramic views of Seoul from the summit and Madangbawi have gone viral on social media, establishing the area as a go-to spot for "proof shots."

In fact, according to Google Trends, search interest in "Gwanaksan Mountain" reached its highest point in the past five years, increasing about 2.5 times over the past year. However, as the rise in visitors threatens to increase environmental damage, the Gwanak District Office plans to strengthen monitoring systems and raise public awareness to prevent recurrence of incidents such as graffiti. Additionally, the office will increase the number of "Gwanaksan Forest Guardians," boost patrol frequency, and enforce a zero-tolerance policy for illegal vandalism.

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