Mountain climbing is very popular in Korea. And since the country is covered with mountains, some steep and tall, others gently sloping and not-so-tall, there's a mountain for everyone here.
Due to the popularity of this hobby in Korea, it's not unusual, on a sunny autumn week-end, to find large groups of people hiking up mountains. When I first witnessed this phenomenon, I was a little surprised. At home, mountains are pretty secluded places. Even though there are some very popular wilderness parks and mountains in Canada, I had never witnessed a crowd of people hiking up a mountain slope, all lined up in a single file, before coming to Korea.
Also of note is that many of the mountain climbers in Korea are elderly people, like Mr. Kim and Mr. Kim whose paths I crossed in Jeolla province late last month. Most of these elderly Korean hikers are in excellent physical form, and they commonly navigate the mountain paths with greater ease than younger hikers. While exploring different mountains, I was more than once embarrassed by an elderly hiker overtaking me on a steep slope.
So if you're visiting Korea, make some time for a mountain hike. Hiking is good fun, good exercise, and a great way to see the country. And while you're out on the trail, you'll probably meet some interesting local people.
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