"Mysterious Angel Shadow"... Why Are Hallasan Hikers Repeatedly Exclaiming?

The Brocken Spectre Seen as a Symbol of Good Luck

During the Chuseok holiday, the so-called 'Brocken phenomenon,' where a rainbow spreads around a shadow at the Baengnokdam crater at the summit of Hallasan, was witnessed, drawing attention.

According to Yonhap News on the 19th, Mr. A, who went hiking on Hallasan, captured the Brocken phenomenon that appeared above the Baengnokdam crater at the summit of Hallasan the previous morning.

'Brocken Spectre' (left) photographed at Baengnokdam, the summit crater of Hallasan, and an enlarged view of it. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Brocken phenomenon is an atmospheric optical phenomenon where a person's shadow is cast onto fog in front of them on a mountain peak, and a rainbow-like halo appears around the shadow when the sun shines from behind. The name originated from climbers who first observed it on Brocken Mountain in the Harz Mountains of Germany.

It mainly forms under specific conditions at mountain summits, making it difficult to observe. In the past, when people did not know it was a meteorological phenomenon, it was misunderstood as a ghost or spirit. However, it is now regarded as a mysterious phenomenon symbolizing good luck.

Mr. A said, "I felt good to see such a rare scene," adding, "I was able to witness this phenomenon at just the right time and place." Netizens who encountered the phenomenon reacted with comments such as, "It looks like a painting rather than a photo," "Amazing. A phenomenon you might see only once in a lifetime," and "It looks like the shadow of an angel."

This is not the first time the Brocken phenomenon has been observed in Korea. In 2018, the Brocken phenomenon was also witnessed at the summit of Cheonwangbong on Jirisan. At that time, the observer said, "While taking photos at the summit, I suddenly saw a strange rainbow and pressed the shutter, and was amazed to find my shadow shape inside it," adding, "It was a great fortune to capture this special phenomenon, which is difficult to capture in a lifetime, in a photo at Cheonwangbong on Jirisan."