MZ Generation Hiking Craze and Rise in Foreign Tourists Lead to Crowds at Subway Stations Near Mountains

With the arrival of the spring hiking season, the number of passengers using subway stations near major mountains in Seoul has increased across the board.

According to Seoul Metro on April 17, a comparison of passenger numbers at six hiking hub stations (Dobongsan, Suraksan, Achasan, Gyeongbokgung, Yangjae, and Seoul National University Entrance) on April 11 this year and the same day last year (April 12, 2025) showed an increase at all six stations. The average growth rate was 11.5%.

Achasan Sunrise Square. Provided by Gangdong-gu.

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The station with the largest increase was Achasan Station, where the number of passengers rose 21.9%, from 27,566 last year to 33,600 this year. Dobongsan Station also saw a 16.6% increase, from 15,256 to 17,790. Suraksan Station (12.7%), Gyeongbokgung Station (12.8%), Seoul National University Entrance Station (8.8%), and Yangjae Station (6.6%) all showed clear upward trends as well. Gyeongbokgung Station serves as the gateway to both Inwangsan and Bugaksan, and Yangjae Station is a popular starting point for hikers heading to Cheonggyesan.

Seoul Metro cited not only seasonal factors but also the growing popularity of hiking as a leisure activity among younger generations, as well as an increase in foreign tourists visiting mountains in Seoul such as Bukhansan, as reasons for the rise in passenger numbers.

Ma Haekeun, Head of the Operations Division at Seoul Metro, stated, "As outdoor activities increase in the spring, we see a tendency for passengers to concentrate at specific stations serving as hiking hubs. We will continue to strengthen crowd management and safety measures, such as deploying additional safety personnel and enhancing announcements, based on transportation data."

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