"Never Hike Alone as a Woman" "Even Two Are at Risk"... Growing Fear of Crime on Mountain Trails

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Concerns over hiking safety are growing as the story of a woman who narrowly avoided becoming a victim of crime while hiking alone spreads widely. As similar incidents continue to be shared, public awareness about the dangers of hiking-previously considered a relatively safe leisure activity-is on the rise.

On April 24, a post titled "Don't Go to the Mountains Alone. Not Even to the Hills Near Your Home" was rapidly shared across social media platforms. The author, Ms. A, recounted an experience where she had planned to hike with a friend for dieting purposes but ended up hiking alone after the friend canceled their plans.

Ms. A recalled, "It was a small mountain that could be summited in about an hour and a half. As I was nearing the top, I saw a man in his 50s coming down. The moment I saw him, I got the feeling that there would be no one else at the summit."

She continued, "As I passed him, I glanced back, and he turned around and said, 'You're alone, aren't you?' Then he changed direction and started running toward me. I ran through the mountain trails, changing directions at random. I was so afraid of giving away my location that I couldn't even scream; I just ran, crying quietly."

While fleeing from the man, Ms. A encountered an elderly man and his grandson, who appeared to be fellow hikers. She said, "I told them, 'Please help me. A strange man is chasing me,' and they accompanied me down the mountain. That's why I emphasize: Don't go hiking alone."

As the post spread, many others shared similar experiences. One user said, "I also encountered a strange man while coming down from Inwangsan. I got an uneasy feeling and turned back, only to realize the man was following me. When I started running, he chased after me and stared at me. Even on the crowded Inwangsan, hiking alone is dangerous." Another user shared, "While hiking, a strange man approached me and made inappropriate demands, so I ran away and was able to leave the mountain with the help of another hiker."

Hiking trail related image. Pixabay

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Other comments included: "There are no CCTVs, and it really is dangerous," "There's nowhere to run and no one to help," "Even guesthouse owners on Jeju Olle Trail advise women not to go alone," "I went to Achasan with my younger sibling, and a woman hiking alone told us a man was following her, so we went down together," "Even the hill behind your neighborhood isn't safe to hike alone," "I've even heard that two women hiking together can still be at risk," and "You need to be careful even in broad daylight."

Mountain trails have long been identified as vulnerable to crime due to their secluded nature. In fact, in 2012 on Jeju Olle Trail, a female hiker in her 40s was murdered. In 2014, a man dubbed the 'Squirrel Flasher' was arrested by police after targeting solo female hikers for four years, committing acts of indecency, robbery, and even sexual assault. In 2015, a woman in her 50s was murdered by a man with the intent to sexually assault her while she was descending Muhaksan Mountain in Changwon, Gyeongnam. In 2023, a woman in her 30s was brutally assaulted and ultimately killed while hiking on Gwanaksan.

In response to such incidents, the National Fire Agency recommends the following for the prevention of mountain accidents: use designated hiking trails, hike with at least two people, and check mountain location signboards and national location numbers.

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