7.8 out of 10 Adults "Visit Mountains at Least Once a Month"

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] A survey revealed that 7.8 out of 10 adults visit mountains at least once a month. The main reason for visiting mountains was cited as "for health."

A forest recreation visitor walking on the Daegwallyeong forest trail. Provided by the Korea Forest Service

The Korea Forest Service announced the results of the "2022 National Awareness Survey on Hiking and Forest Trail Experiences" on the 8th.

The survey was conducted to collect data for setting directions and planning forest trail projects, sampling 1,800 people nationwide aged 19 to 79 (randomly selected using a panel frame proportional to population by gender, age, and region).

According to the results, the population experiencing hiking or forest trails at least once a month or 1-2 times every two months was approximately 32.29 million (calculated by applying the sample survey results), accounting for 78% of the total adult population.

This is a 1% increase from 77% in 2021. However, during the same period, the hiking population increased by 11.8%, from 62.3% (2021) to 74.1% (2022), while forest trail experiences decreased by 8.3%, from 89.5% to 81.2%.

By gender, the hiking and forest trail experience population increased from 79% to 80% for men and from 75% to 77% for women.

As of last year, by age group, those aged 60 and above had the highest hiking and forest trail experience rate at 91%, followed by those in their 50s at 85%, 40s at 71%, 30s at 70%, and 20s at 59%.

Notably, the proportion of hiking and forest trail participants in their 40s and 50s has steadily increased each year, whereas the 20s age group has shown a continuous decline since 2018.

In response, the Korea Forest Service believes it is necessary to develop related programs and build a "youthful" image of hiking and forest trail experiences that can attract the interest of people in their 20s, who are future forest users.

Regionally, the Chungcheong area showed the highest proportion of hiking and forest trail participants relative to the total adult population at 82%, followed by Yeongnam at 81%, Honam and Jeju at 80%, Seoul at 79%, and Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Gangwon at 77%. In Seoul, the growth rate of hiking and forest trail participants has stagnated since 2018.

The main reason for hiking was "for health," accounting for 75% of responses. Other reasons for visiting mountains included "liking walking in the mountains itself (49%)" and "liking the scenery and atmosphere (48%)."

Conversely, 60% of hikers expressed a desire for trail maintenance to reduce fatigue even during long hikes in the future.

Among the hiking population, 91% climb nearby hills (mountains under 500m in height) at least once every two months, 83% visit nearby mountains at least once every two months, and 13% visit large mountains such as Seoraksan, Jirisan, and Taebaeksan at least once every two months.

Hiking is most often done "with family (39%)," followed by alone (32%) or with friends, seniors/juniors, or colleagues (23%). The time invested in hiking was distributed as 3-4 hours (41%), under 2 hours (38%), 5-6 hours (15%), 7-8 hours (3%), and over 8 hours (3%).

The main reason for regular forest trail experiences was also "for health (70%)." Other primary reasons included liking the scenery and atmosphere (50%), liking walking itself (39%), and wanting to have time alone (27%).

Regarding expectations for forest trail experiences, priorities included ensuring safety on forest trail courses (43%), creating fatigue-free forest trails (42%), establishing easy forest trail courses that families can enjoy without burden (42%), and providing nationwide forest trail course and surrounding travel information (29%).

Jang Young-shin, Director of the Forest Recreation and Hiking Division at the Korea Forest Service, said, "To steadily increase the hiking and forest trail experience population, participation from people in their 20s in outdoor activities is essential. The Korea Forest Service will strive to understand the hiking and forest trail behaviors, needs, and trends of people in their 20s and build a 'youthful' image of hiking and forest trail experiences that can attract them."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.