Dongdaemun-gu Mayor Ilpyeong Lee Climbs Jirisan with 16 Members of 'Dudreemer' Policy Research and Idea Development Group from 25th to 27th, Posts 'Miracle' on Facebook Drawing Attention
Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun District (fourth from the right), is showing the flag of 'Carbon Neutral Future City Dongdaemun-gu' after climbing Cheonwangbong Peak of Jirisan.
Lee Pil-hyung, the mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, attracted attention by discussing innovative plans for Dongdaemun-gu while hiking for 3 days and 2 nights in Jirisan with 16 people, including 7 members of ‘Dudreemer,’ a policy research and idea discovery group within the district office.
On the 25th, Mayor Lee set out on a Jirisan workshop by bus with 7 Dudreemer members, the head of the administrative support division, 2 members of the talent development team, 4 others including the chief secretary, and the public relations officer, totaling 16 people. After arriving at the accommodation at 6 p.m., they had dinner and rested, then from 7 p.m. held a one-hour session to share visions and discuss achievement plans.
The next day, starting at 2:30 a.m., they moved from the accommodation to Seongsamjae for 30 minutes, then departed from Seongsamjae Rest Area at 3 a.m., passing through Nogodan Pass, Piragol Samgeori, and Norumok, followed by breakfast and rest. They then walked through Norurok, Hwagaejae, Yeonhacheon Shelter, Byeoksoryeong Shelter, and Seseok Shelter. Afterward, they had a meal and rest, then discussed the direction of Dudreemer activities.
On the last day, the 27th, from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., they walked from Seseok Shelter to Chotdaebong, watched the sunrise at Chotdaebong, and completed the march by walking through Jangteomok Shelter, Cheonwangbong, Rotary Shelter, and Baekmudong.
On the 27th, Mayor Lee posted a message titled ‘Miracle’ on Facebook.
...The Cheonwangbong team greeted a fantastic sunrise from within the rocks.
I wiped tears without realizing it.
Reluctantly, it is 1,915m Cheonwangbong.
Only the wind, wind, and wind blew fiercely.
We came close to the sky.
We lived again.
Far away, Nogodan looked at us proudly.
We responded in kind.
“Thank you, Jirisan.”
“Dongdaemun is the best.”
Yes.
It is a miracle.
Mayor Lee is a popular travel writer who published five books after selling 6,000 copies of his first travelogue written after completing the Jirisan traverse in 2016, titled ‘My Breath Led Me.’ His other books include ▲ ‘Nepal’s Time Does Not Rush’ (2017), ▲ ‘Mont Blanc, The Gateway to the Sky’ (2019), and ▲ ‘Is Hongdo Well?’ (2021). He is especially known for writing short-form texts.
Kim Eun-kyung, the public relations officer who participated in this Jirisan hike, shared her thoughts on the 29th, saying, “Thanks to the mayor’s expertise and outstanding leadership, the Jirisan traverse was possible. While descending the dark mountain path alone, I was scared and stumbled, but the mayor, wearing a white jumper like a mountain spirit, came out to meet us and shone a light, which moved me deeply.”
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Mayor Lee’s Facebook post
Sixteen employees of Dongdaemun-gu Office stood in front of Seongsamjae in Jirisan at 3:30 a.m.
The sky was densely studded with stars.
They took the first step of the Jirisan traverse.
In the darkness, only the clicking sound of sticks was heard.
It was the Imgeollyeong spring.
Two employees descended due to knee problems.
They had breakfast at Yeonhacheon Mountain Lodge.
Jirisan was called Hell Mountain, Evil Mountain, Crazy Mountain, Terrible Mountain, and Desperate Mountain?all kinds of names came up.
Complaints, dissatisfaction, and hardships were abundant.
Still, they moved toward Byeoksoryeong.
How was the mountain path?
“Like chewing gum. Easy.”
They crossed Byeoksoryeong.
They headed toward Seseok Mountain Lodge.
Again, the employees confessed they had been defeated.
“When will this mountain finally find peace?”
After many twists and turns, two employees arrived at Seseok Mountain Lodge at 5:30 p.m.
The sun set at 6 p.m.
‘What to do now?’
How would the beginners manage to come up?
Worry took over, so they went out to meet them.
They waited about 700 meters ahead.
One by one, two, three... they appeared in the darkness.
At 8 p.m., all 15 members arrived safely.
They repeated, ‘It’s a miracle.’
Again, it was early dawn.
They climbed Chotdaebong and greeted the sunrise faintly through the mist.
Then, 8 members decided to go to Cheonwangbong, and 6 decided to descend.
The Cheonwangbong team greeted a fantastic sunrise from within the rocks.
I wiped tears without realizing it.
Reluctantly, it is 1,915m Cheonwangbong.
Only the wind, wind, and wind blew fiercely.
We came close to the sky.
We lived again.
Far away, Nogodan looked at us proudly.
We responded in kind.
“Thank you, Jirisan.”
“Dongdaemun is the best.”
Yes.
It is a miracle.
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