Anyone Can Use the Bukmun Hiking Culture Exploration Support Center on Geumjeongsan Mountain
Busan City: "Efforts for Nature Conservation and Management, Understanding Ecological Forest Trails"
Major Maintenance of Safety Ropes and Guide Signs for the Rest-Year System in Zone 3 of Geumjeongsan
The secret key to Geumjeongsan Mountain lies in his hands. This 'problem solver' has begun to unravel the mysteries of Geumjeongsan, the guardian mountain of Busan.
On April 22, the Busan Metropolitan Government (Mayor Park Heongjoon) announced that it is operating 'forest trail hiking guides' at the Bukmun Hiking Culture Exploration Support Center and major hiking trails on Geumjeongsan, providing opportunities to learn about the mountain.
A 'forest trail hiking guide' is a forest education specialist who provides a variety of hiking services so that citizens can hike safely and comfortably.
These guides, whom visitors can meet on Geumjeongsan, not only lead hikers along the trails and major forest paths but also share stories about the mountain's history, culture, and ecology.
They help promote the appeal of Geumjeongsan to Busan citizens, visitors from other regions, and foreigners by explaining not only the mountain's geographical features and characteristics of its forest trails, but also the origins of Geumsaem and Godangbong Peak, the animals and plants inhabiting Geumjeongsan, and the stories of the four main gates and watchtowers of Geumjeongsanseong Fortress.
In addition, they introduce the value and beauty of native plants such as Euonymus oxyphyllus, Styrax japonicus, Erythronium japonicum, Primula sieboldii, and Patrinia scabiosaefolia, helping visitors recognize the importance of the ecological environment and environmental conservation.
Other activities include conducting campaigns to promote a healthy hiking culture, activities to prevent safety accidents among hikers, providing explanations of mountain records in the exhibition hall of the Hiking Culture Exploration Support Center, and utilizing the forest culture education facilities.
They also encourage hikers to follow the Leave No Trace (LNT) principles to raise environmental awareness, and provide basic knowledge such as proper walking techniques and how to use hiking poles, thereby fostering a positive hiking culture.
Anyone visiting Geumjeongsan can meet a 'forest trail hiking guide' at the Busan Hiking Culture Exploration Support Center, and no advance reservation is required to receive explanations.
For more information about the forest trail hiking guides, inquiries can be made by phone to the Forest Policy Team of the Busan Green Forest City Division.
The City of Busan is continuously working to protect and manage Geumjeongsan through measures such as implementing a rest-year system for Zone 3 of Geumjeongsan, conducting various ecosystem conservation activities, and carrying out safety inspections for hikers.
Busan has been operating a five-year rest-year system for Zone 3 of Geumjeongsan (1,400 hectares) from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2026, in order to conserve the ecosystem.
Recently, to ensure the safety of hikers and prevent forest damage, the city inspected the condition of the open hiking trails in Zone 3 (from Trail 9 to Trail 21) and damaged ropes, and completed maintenance of safety ropes and guide signs.
At the end of April, in cooperation with civic groups, the city plans to improve the growth environment of the camellia planting area (about 410 trees) around the fourth watchtower by fertilizing and maintaining support stakes. In addition, it will conduct a wildfire prevention campaign and a litter collection activity to raise awareness of large-scale wildfire prevention, with both the public and private sectors working together to protect Geumjeongsan.
Ahn Cheolsoo, Director of the Busan Green City Bureau, said, "Geumjeongsan is a representative natural attraction of Busan, where a variety of plants and animals create a beautiful landscape. I hope you will take the opportunity to explore Geumjeongsan with a forest trail hiking guide and experience a meaningful time connecting with nature."
A forest trail hiking guide is providing an explanation about the marker stone of Godangbong Peak on Geumjeongsan Mountain.
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