[AK View]If You Have the Will to Climb Gwanaksan, Nothing Is Impossible

In 1998, it was common to see middle-aged men wearing neckties at the entrance of the Sadang Ridge on Gwanaksan Mountain. They were breadwinners who had lost their jobs due to the foreign exchange crisis (IMF crisis). Hiding the news of their dismissal from their families, they headed to the mountains as if going to work. Outdoor gear stores rented out hiking clothes and shoes. At Yeonjuam Hermitage on Gwanaksan, free lunches were served. The Sadang Ridge, leading to the Yeonjudae Peak, is a rocky path that ascends with the city of Seoul at your back. With pent-up frustration from suddenly losing their jobs, they likely climbed with the feeling of turning their backs on Seoul. However, when they paused to catch their breath and looked back, the expansive view of Seoul offered them comfort. During the "IMF era," Gwanaksan was there so the unemployed would not feel alone.

In 2026, young people in their 20s and 30s are gathering in front of the 629-meter summit marker at Gwanaksan. They wear neither hiking clothes nor hiking boots. They are willing to wait for nearly an hour for a photo to certify their visit. It all started with a fortune teller's remark: "If luck isn't on your side, go to Gwanaksan. If you make a wish three times, it will come true." In the recently aired KBS documentary "Tell Me Your Wish," many young people climbing Gwanaksan expressed wishes such as finding a job or changing jobs.

Experts analyze that the main reason young people are flocking to Gwanaksan is anxiety about the future. They are seeking psychological stability through the variable of "luck" in the face of structural problems that cannot be solved by individual effort alone, such as the difficulty of finding a job and housing insecurity. When people feel anxious, there is a tendency to rely on luck or believe in a transcendent being. Added to this is the trend among Millennials & Gen Z, who are enthusiastic about "experience consumption," personally visiting places that have become popular on social networking services (SNS).

Crowds are gathered at the summit of Yeonjudae Peak on Gwanaksan Mountain. Provided by Gwanak-gu

Since ancient times, Yeonjudae Peak on Gwanaksan Mountain has been known as a place where many people visited and prayed for success and high office. When viewed from the side, Yeonjudae appears as a sharply rising rock, with Ungjinjeon Hall perched atop a rock shaped like a chicken comb. There is even a theory that the name "Gwanaksan" (with "Gwan," meaning "crown") originated from this chicken comb-shaped rock, which symbolizes a crown.

Choi Changjo, former professor at Seoul National University, who systematized and popularized Korea's geomancy theory, wrote in his book "The Best Site Lies Within the Heart" that "seeking a good site is about finding a place where you can maintain peace of mind." He asserted that "a place that gives each person peace is a sacred site." Ultimately, this suggests that geomancy cannot change a person's fate. The goal of hiking is not simply to seek good fortune. The important thing is the process of climbing the steep rocky ridge and reaching the summit without giving up. The word "un" (luck) means "to move" or "to transfer." The "movement" of climbing the challenging Gwanaksan with your own two feet is what truly brings luck.

On the 17th, the Korea Employers Federation released a report, "Key Characteristics and Implications of Recent Employment Trends," stating that last year the number of people in their 20s and 30s categorized as "taking a break" reached 717,000. This is the highest figure since relevant statistics began to be compiled in 2003. However, we too easily label young people as "taking a break." If this term is repeated, it may give the impression that young people are doing nothing. Job seekers, interns, part-timers, and those climbing Gwanaksan are all in motion. Out of sight, many young people are persevering with a sense of desperation. Our society must make sure these young people do not feel alone.

If you have the will to climb a mountain, there is nothing you cannot achieve. To the young people climbing Gwanaksan: do not fall asleep, do not lose confidence. The sheer determination to climb the mountain is more than enough to deserve good fortune.

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