By Bernard Rowan
South Korea is home to many outstanding public parks. Each provides a wonderful springboard to discovering the wonders of nature, mountain climbing, and enjoying local and regional cultures. They also reflect the Korean people's dedication to preserving protected lands for generations to come.
According to the Korea National Park's website (english.knps.or.kr), nearly seven percent of Korea's land forms her national parks, of which there are 22. This wonderful website contains much information to orient us to the wonders of these parks. It can also help us arrange for a visit, including hiking tours, campsites and guides. The first park, Jirisan, now has 16 other sister mountains, four marine and coastal parks, and one historical park (Gyeongju). The Ministry of the Environment (eng.me.go.kr) tells us that Korea also boasts 30 provincial and 27 county parks.
Among the most famous national parks are Seoraksan, Bukhansan and Sobaeksan. The syllable "san" says the location is a mountain. Many of the tall mountains are great for hiking with the proper motivation and skills. I suggest going in a group and having a local guide or friend familiar with the park. Mountain climbing is not a game or thrill. A wonderful form of exercise, mountain climbing is a matter needing one's full attention for safety as well as enjoyment.
Korean parks contain plenty of special to rare species of flora and fauna, animals. The parks don't charge an entry fee, so many people visit each year. South Korea began a Second Master Natural Park Plan in 2012. It provides for the parks' maintenance as well as native species, restoring damaged spaces and related scientific studies. Many acres in the parks are "Special Protection" zones.
I've yet to conquer many national parks. I look forward to learning more about the reach and breadth of the country in the future through visiting them. I have climbed Dobongsan and spent several wonderful days in Gyeongju, a topic deserving separate treatment. While there, I made it up and down Namsan.
I remember my climbs fondly. While not adept at climbing, I had great times! Many people climbed the mountains and walked the trails. Nonetheless, I liked the beauty and untouched feeling of the places. Much of the climbing was difficult, so it's wonderful exercise. Mind you, it's not the rappelling stuff that is faddish now. No, people climb for exercise and for relief from busy living. I love to recall the sight of so many Seoulites, for example, leaving from their streets, neighborhoods and districts. Donning their climbing gear, and heading to the entry of Dobongsan and fresh air, they walk and reflect and enjoy conversations. Groups of women, older men, or just lone visitors all enjoy these places.
Along many of the trails lie beautiful monuments, often to Buddhist sages or other signs of Korean hermitages of long ago. Many scholars and leaders retreated to mountains or made mountains their temples and schools in times, good and bad. Vestiges add to the learning and still see visitors for devotions and other related purposes. I remember several on Namsan.
A meal tastes better following the climb and descent. I visited Dobongsan just before winter. Stop, rest and enjoy talking about the experience at the foot of the mountain. Capture the feeling of sharing the beauty and wonder of these places. After my hike, steaming sundubu jigae with makgeolli rounded off a perfect day.
Enjoy Korea's national, regional, and local parks. They may not rank as the most popular places for travel. Yet, they should rank among the best for those wanting to balance contemporary living and nature!
Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University.
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According to the Korea National Park's website (english.knps.or.kr), nearly seven percent of Korea's land forms her national parks, of which there are 22. This wonderful website contains much information to orient us to the wonders of these parks. It can also help us arrange for a visit, including hiking tours, campsites and guides. The first park, Jirisan, now has 16 other sister mountains, four marine and coastal parks, and one historical park (Gyeongju). The Ministry of the Environment (eng.me.go.kr) tells us that Korea also boasts 30 provincial and 27 county parks.
Among the most famous national parks are Seoraksan, Bukhansan and Sobaeksan. The syllable "san" says the location is a mountain. Many of the tall mountains are great for hiking with the proper motivation and skills. I suggest going in a group and having a local guide or friend familiar with the park. Mountain climbing is not a game or thrill. A wonderful form of exercise, mountain climbing is a matter needing one's full attention for safety as well as enjoyment.
Korean parks contain plenty of special to rare species of flora and fauna, animals. The parks don't charge an entry fee, so many people visit each year. South Korea began a Second Master Natural Park Plan in 2012. It provides for the parks' maintenance as well as native species, restoring damaged spaces and related scientific studies. Many acres in the parks are "Special Protection" zones.
I've yet to conquer many national parks. I look forward to learning more about the reach and breadth of the country in the future through visiting them. I have climbed Dobongsan and spent several wonderful days in Gyeongju, a topic deserving separate treatment. While there, I made it up and down Namsan.
I remember my climbs fondly. While not adept at climbing, I had great times! Many people climbed the mountains and walked the trails. Nonetheless, I liked the beauty and untouched feeling of the places. Much of the climbing was difficult, so it's wonderful exercise. Mind you, it's not the rappelling stuff that is faddish now. No, people climb for exercise and for relief from busy living. I love to recall the sight of so many Seoulites, for example, leaving from their streets, neighborhoods and districts. Donning their climbing gear, and heading to the entry of Dobongsan and fresh air, they walk and reflect and enjoy conversations. Groups of women, older men, or just lone visitors all enjoy these places.
Along many of the trails lie beautiful monuments, often to Buddhist sages or other signs of Korean hermitages of long ago. Many scholars and leaders retreated to mountains or made mountains their temples and schools in times, good and bad. Vestiges add to the learning and still see visitors for devotions and other related purposes. I remember several on Namsan.
A meal tastes better following the climb and descent. I visited Dobongsan just before winter. Stop, rest and enjoy talking about the experience at the foot of the mountain. Capture the feeling of sharing the beauty and wonder of these places. After my hike, steaming sundubu jigae with makgeolli rounded off a perfect day.
Enjoy Korea's national, regional, and local parks. They may not rank as the most popular places for travel. Yet, they should rank among the best for those wanting to balance contemporary living and nature!
Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University.
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