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Autumn is the most exciting season for outdoor activities in Korea, where 70 percent of the country is covered in mountains. If you go hiking this time of year, you will have an unforgettable and wonderful experience. Feast your eyes with colorful autumn leaves in radiant reds, oranges and golden hues against the deep blue skies. Hiking is a great way to enjoy whatever corner of Korea you happen to find yourself in.
Before exploring, let’s learn some hiking etiquette tips that’ll help you have a great time in the mountains!
1. Korean Hiking greetings
Koreans usually say “good work!” and “cheer up!” to encourage each other instead of saying hello when running into people in the mountains. Give these two phrases a try to give your fellow hikers on the path a smile. Koreans really love when foreigners make the effort to speak Korean and your interaction will make their entire day!
How to cheer up and encourage someone in Korean (formal):
• Sugohaseyo(수고하세요): Take care/ Good work/ Keep up the hard work
Sugo(수고): Effort/ Hard work
• Himnaeseyo(힘내세요): Cheer up/ Hang in there
Him(힘): Strength/ Energy/ Power
2. Giving others the right of way
Along the trails, you may find some narrow paths that require hikers to go one at a time. In this case, we’d better make way for the person coming down first so we can all be safe on our hiking adventure.
How to give someone the right of way (formal):
• Meonjeo gaseyo(먼저 가세요): Go first please/ After you
Meonjeo(먼저): First/ Before
3. Protecting the environment
Keep the delicate ecosystems around you in mind when you’re out on a hike. Do not deviate from the trails, to protect the grass and trees. Think about the animals and don’t pick up too many acorns or chestnuts since those are what small animals eat in the winter. Also, make sure to bring your trash with you and not to leave any behind on the mountain.
Things you shouldn’t do at national parks
• Entering restricted areas: 100,000-500,000 won (about $70-350) fine
• Making loud noise with a device such as a Bluetooth speaker: maximum 300,000 won (about $210) fine
• Bringing a pet: 100,000 won (about $70) fine
• Drinking alcohol when hiking: 50,000-100,000 won (about $35-70) fine
• Bringing any kind of inflammable material or smoking: maximum 300,000 won (about $210) fine
• Camping or cooking in areas that are not designated: maximum 500,000 won (about $350) fine
• Collecting forest products such as acorns, mushrooms and wild greens: maximum 50,000,000 won (about $35,100) fine or five years in prison
