As Gwanaksan Mountain in Seoul has recently emerged as a "hot place" among young people, photos showing food waste and trash illegally dumped in a puddle near the summit are spreading, fueling criticism over hikers' behavior.
According to online communities on the 4th, photos are circulating online of a location presumed to be a puddle near Gamrocheon on Gwanaksan Mountain in Gwanak District that has been contaminated with various food waste and disposable trash.
The person who posted it wrote, "The people who dumped ramen broth and trash into Gamrocheon at the summit of Gwanaksan Mountain are truly the real trash." The accompanying photos show a puddle turned red, tangled with household waste such as ice cream wrappers and tissues.
Gwanaksan Mountain has recently seen a surge in visits by young people after a fortune-teller said, "If you climb it when your luck isn't turning, you can receive good energy." But the sudden crowds have raised concerns about safety management, environmental damage and an immature hiking culture.
In the past month, a lacquer graffiti attack reading "There's no Gwanaksan luck for you, nyah" occurred at "Madangbawi," a famous spot in Bongcheon-dong along Gwanaksan Mountain Trail No. 1 (Sadang Station–Yeonjudae), sparking controversy.
The Gwanaksan Mountain area is an urban nature park managed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and acts that damage facilities or cause pollution are subject to punishment. Under the Act on Urban Parks and Green Areas, those who damage park facilities can face a fine of up to 3 million won.