"Early Spring Hiking, Beware of Slippery Trails and Cold Weather"

Ministry of the Interior and Safety Urges Special Caution for Accident Prevention

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety requested special attention to accident prevention on the 1st, as the weather warms up and the number of hikers increases to enjoy the feeling of spring, expecting an increase in safety accidents accordingly.

In the past two years, a total of 14,950 hiking accidents have occurred, resulting in 8,698 casualties (192 deaths and 8,506 injuries).

Among these, 941 hiking accidents occurred in March, with 15 deaths and 539 injuries. In particular, March is a period when winter and spring coexist; while the daytime in urban areas is mild, the temperature remains low in the mountains with cold winds blowing, increasing the risk of accidents.

Early spring hiking trails are slipperier than expected due to ice and frost that have not yet melted, and the weather changes severely due to the cold snap, so the risk of safety accidents is high. Therefore, the following safety rules must be strictly observed when hiking.

Start hiking with light warm-up exercises, choose a hiking trail suitable for your physical strength, and if you feel any strain during the hike, descend immediately. Be careful as it is easy to slip in places with high altitude, shaded areas, or under fallen leaves where ice has not yet completely melted.

Also, during the day the weather warms up, but it gets cold in the morning and evening, causing the ground to freeze and thaw repeatedly, making rocks and soil prone to breaking off even with small impacts. Always be cautious of what is above your head and under your feet. During times of large temperature differences like these days, special attention to keeping warm is necessary.

Although the length of daylight is gradually increasing with the changing seasons, it is still dim around 6 p.m., and the sun sets quickly in the mountains, making it easy for accidents such as getting lost to occur. Furthermore, due to the recent dry weather and strong winds, even a small spark can spread quickly, so special caution is required to prevent forest fires in the mountains or nearby areas.

Cha Ho-jun, Director of the Prevention and Safety Policy Division at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, “Many people are planning hikes as the weather warms up these days, but since winter and spring still coexist in the mountains, it is easy to slip on hiking trails that have not fully thawed yet, and the large temperature differences are dangerous. When going hiking, please pay attention to keeping warm and hike safely according to your physical strength.”