Fall Foliage Season 'Slip and Fall Warning'... Helicopter Dispatches Triple in Four Months

Mountain Accidents Rapidly Increase Since September
"Dangerous If You Leave Designated Hiking Trails"

Recently, with the increase in hikers during the autumn foliage season, the number of mountain rescue helicopter dispatches has been confirmed to have increased more than threefold in just four months. As this season is when mountain accidents surge every year, special caution is being advised.

Some hikers visiting the Hwangto Trail on Gyejoksan Mountain in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon, are walking barefoot on the trail. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

According to the Fire Agency on the 21st, the number of helicopter dispatches for mountain rescues was 21 in July, 69 in August, 95 in September, and 74 as of the 18th of October. On the 15th, a man in his 30s, Mr. A, suffered a fall accident near Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do, and was rescued by helicopter after more than five hours of rescue operations. On the 13th, a couple in their 60s who were stranded on Wantaeksan Mountain in Yeongwol, Gangwon-do, were rescued by helicopter after about three hours. On the 7th, a man in his 30s who fell 100 meters down a cliff while setting up a tent on Daebuksan Mountain in Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, was urgently transported by a fire department helicopter.

Every year, mountain accidents begin to increase rapidly from September when the weather becomes cooler. From 2021 to last year, the total number of mountain accident rescues nationwide over the past three years was 33,236, with 25% of dispatches concentrated in September and October. The causes of dispatch were led by slips and falls at 29%, followed by other mountain accidents at 27.9%, search and rescue for missing persons at 26%, and personal illnesses at 9.9%.

To hike safely, it is recommended to do light warm-up exercises before climbing and to avoid hiking alone. Also, it is best to start hiking early and descend before sunset, and to prepare a light outer garment to cope with large temperature differences.

A Fire Agency official said, “Since the temperature difference is large in autumn, it is essential to check weather information before hiking and to choose a hiking course suitable for your physical condition so that you can descend before sunset. It is very dangerous to leave designated trails or hike after drinking alcohol. If you get lost in a vast mountain, search operations take a lot of time and can lead to other damages such as hypothermia, so we ask everyone to follow hiking safety rules from the beginning.”