Climbing Gains Popularity Among Young People, But Fall Accidents Surge: "Safety Rules Must Be Followed"

202 Safety Accidents Reported to the Korea Consumer Agency Over the Past Five Years
More Than Half Involved People in Their Twenties, Increase Noted Among Children Under Ten
Improper Landing Postures and Other Factors Lead to Injuries

The Korea Consumer Agency has issued a warning to consumers, noting that accidents such as falls continue to occur in indoor artificial wall climbing (sport climbing), which has recently gained popularity, especially among younger people, due to users failing to follow safety rules.

According to the agency on October 22, a total of 202 safety accidents related to artificial wall climbing were reported to the Consumer Injury Surveillance System (CISS) between 2020 and last year. The number of annual accidents surged from 35 cases in 2022 to 124 cases in 2023.

Analysis of 183 cases where the age group was identified showed that those in their twenties accounted for the largest proportion at 50.8% (93 cases), followed by those in their thirties at 18.6% (34 cases), and children under the age of ten at 15.3% (28 cases). In particular, the increase in climbing experience zones within play facilities such as lessons for children and kids' cafes has led to a higher incidence rate among children under ten.

Falls were the primary cause of accidents, accounting for 169 cases (83.7%). Most injuries resulted from unsafe descent methods and improper landing posture. Most indoor artificial climbing gyms operate in the "bouldering" style, where participants climb without ropes. Although this sport is perceived as having a low barrier to entry because no special equipment is needed, the Korea Consumer Agency explained that it is easy for users to become complacent by relying on floor mats, and the impact from a fall is transmitted directly to the body, which can lead to serious injuries.

When analyzing the main areas of injury, "hips, legs, and feet" were the most frequently affected (40.6%, 82 cases), followed by "arms and hands" (20.8%, 42 cases). This is attributed to frequent injuries such as ankle damage during landing or reflexively using hands to break a fall, resulting in wrist or elbow injuries.

By type of injury, "contusions" were the most common at 30.7% (62 cases), but there were also a significant number of severe injuries such as "fractures" (17.8%, 36 cases) and "dislocations" (17.3%, 35 cases), requiring extra caution.

The Korea Consumer Agency emphasized, "Indoor artificial wall climbing is a sport that anyone can easily try regardless of the weather, but failing to land properly or not following safety rules can lead to serious accidents."

To prevent safety accidents in indoor artificial wall climbing, the agency advised: ▲ Beginners must use the facility only after receiving instruction from a professional instructor ▲ Warm up thoroughly before climbing to prevent injuries ▲ After finishing a climb, descend slowly by holding onto the holds ▲ When landing, distribute the impact across both feet and bend your knees upon landing.