"I'd Rather Go to Bukhansan Than Seongsu-dong"... Foreigners Are Captivated by 'K-Hiking' [K-Holic]

'K-Hiking' Wins Over Foreign Tourists
Gaining Popularity with Accessibility and Culinary Culture
"Urban Hiking Is Captivating"

Editor's NoteInterest in Korean culture is rapidly growing around the world. Korean-related products and content, such as K-food and K-beauty, are permeating the daily lives of overseas consumers, reaching far beyond a niche group of enthusiasts. [K-Holic] sheds light on the 'Korean Wave' observed across the globe and explores why international consumers are turning their attention to Korea.

Driven by the global craze for K-pop, K-dramas, and other facets of K-culture, Korea's mountains are emerging as new tourist attractions among foreign visitors. The focus is shifting from traditional tourism centered on shopping and food, to the 'urban hiking' experience, which offers both natural and cityscape views at the same time.

Snap a Photo at the Summit... The Secret Behind the Popularity of 'K-Hiking' Is Accessibility

Recently, social networking services (SNS) such as Instagram have seen a steady stream of posts featuring hashtags like '#seoulhiking' and '#koreahiking.' Each of these hashtags has surpassed 5,000 posts, and the numbers continue to grow. These posts show foreign tourists taking commemorative photos at the summit with Seoul's skyline in the background, recording their own hiking routes, or enjoying kimbap after their hike.

Foreign YouTubers are also actively sharing hiking content. One international YouTuber uploaded a hiking video and said, "Experience the breathtaking beauty offered by Seoul's mountains and nature." He added, "This journey, where you can enjoy both urban views and lush forests at the same time, is an appealing experience not only for nature lovers but also for anyone curious about Korea."

The core reason behind the so-called 'K-hiking' craze is its outstanding accessibility, thanks to its proximity to urban areas. In Seoul, using public transportation such as subways and buses, people can reach mountains in a relatively short time, making 'urban hiking' possible. Unlike overseas hiking environments, which often require dedicating more than a full day or traveling by car, Korea allows people to visit mountains rather casually as part of their daily lives—a refreshing experience for many foreign visitors.

In particular, Bukhansan Mountain has become a must-visit destination for foreign tourists, as it offers not only spectacular natural scenery but also historical sites such as fortresses. Its closeness to downtown, coupled with summit views that provide a panoramic look over Seoul, have earned it a reputation as a mountain where visitors can enjoy both city and nature at once.

The culinary experiences that follow a hike are also considered a unique charm of 'K-hiking.' The after-hike tradition of enjoying dishes like pajeon (scallion pancake) or dotori-muk (acorn jelly) with a glass of Makgeolli at a nearby restaurant is gaining attention among foreigners as a novel experience. This is seen as an expansion of tourism content in Korea, allowing visitors to experience not just hiking but also the country’s distinctive food culture.

2.05 Million Foreigners Visited National Parks Last Year... Hallasan Ranks No. 1 Among National Park Destinations

Photos are unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Pixabay

Thanks to this popularity, more and more foreigners are visiting Korea's national parks. According to the Korea National Park Service, a total of 2.05 million foreigners visited the country's national parks last year. By nationality, the largest group was Chinese visitors at 248,345, followed by Taiwan (133,157), the Philippines (92,931), Indonesia (76,815), the United States (63,785), and Japan (50,733).

The most popular national park among foreign visitors was Hallasan Mountain in Jeju, with 271,443 visitors. Other popular destinations included Seoraksan (111,731), Bukhansan (57,315), Palgongsan (21,964), Songnisan (18,124), and Odaesan (16,256), indicating that the fervor for 'K-hiking' has spread to mountains all across the country.

"K-Hiking Is Becoming a Trend Among Foreigners As Well"

The city sky viewed from Bukhansan Mountain in Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Overseas media are also paying attention to this trend. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) in Hong Kong highlighted the 'K-hiking' wave last July, reporting, "Sampling street food and shopping for K-pop merchandise or cosmetics used to be must-do activities for travelers in Korea, but now a new experience is rapidly gaining popularity."

The media outlet explained, "Seoul is regarded as a mecca for urban hiking, and it is no longer uncommon to see foreign tourists exploring mountain trails and taking photos at the summit." It went on to add, "The culture of eating cup noodles and kimbap at the summit, and cooling off with Makgeolli after coming down, is also spreading like a trend among foreigners."

In particular, Catalina, a Romanian national interviewed by SCMP, said, "It is really easy to go hiking in Korea. In my hometown, the mountains are very high, and the infrastructure is lacking, so you have to drive there and dedicate at least an entire weekend if you want to go even once." She added, "You can't just wake up in the morning and decide to go hiking by taking the subway to the mountains."

Meanwhile, the changing perception of K-hiking is also confirmed by related surveys. According to a survey conducted by market research firm Embrain Trend Monitor on 1,000 Korean adults aged 19 to 69 regarding their 2026 hiking experiences and perceptions of hiking culture, 57.3% of all respondents said that hiking is evolving into a 'K-hiking' trend that attracts foreign tourists. In addition, 51.2% responded that there seem to be more young people hiking these days.

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