Seoul Trail hike gives international students taste of city's greener side

Seoul may be a city of towering skyscrapers and bustling business districts, but it also offers a harmonious blend of urban and natural landscapes, including the Han River and numerous mountains.

International students fromYonsei University’s Korean Language Institute pose for a photo at Sunrise Square on Achasan in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul, on Thursday. The students participated in a hiking activity that involved walking one of the 21 Seoul Trails. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Seoul may be a city of towering skyscrapers and bustling business districts, but it also offers a harmonious blend of urban and natural landscapes, including the Han River and numerous mountains.

Namsan might be the best-known mountain among tourists, but many other scenic spots are waiting to be discovered.

One of the best ways to explore these natural wonders is following the Seoul Trail, a 156.5-kilometer (97-mile) route that circles the city. The trail opened in 2014 and was recently redivided from eight segments to 21, making the routes more accessible and easier to complete. Hiking each segment takes anywhere from 2 hours and 10 minutes to 4 hours and 50 minutes.

In an exciting opportunity for foreigners, students from Yonsei University’s Korean Language Institute embarked on a hike along Achasan’s trail on a sweltering Thursday.

Achasan is a mountain straddling the border between Gwangjin District in eastern Seoul and Guri in Gyeonggi.

International students from Yonsei University’s Korean Language Institute listen to a tour guide's explanation in front of the statutes of Princess Pyeonggang and the Fool Ondal on Achasan in eastern Seoul on Thursday. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Accompanied by tour guides from the Korea Mountaineering Support Center, dozens of international students trekked along the path, learning about the mountain’s history and legends.

"Has anyone heard about the folklore of Princess Pyeonggang and the Fool Ondal?" a guide asked, referring to the statues near the trailhead.

Achasan was the site of fierce battles between the three ancient kingdoms of Goguryeo (37 B.C.-A.D. 668), Baekje (18 B.C.-A.D. 660), and Silla (57 B.C.-A.D. 935) and where the Goguryeo general Ondal, also referred to as the Fool Ondal, was fatally pierced by an arrow in battle.

Despite the mercury in Seoul climbing to as high as 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit) on Thursday, the hike was pleasant, thanks to the forest canopies providing shade. Clear signage in English, Chinese and Japanese, newly installed as part of a trail revamp in April, made navigation easy.

International students from Yonsei University’s Korean Language Institute collect a Seoul Trail stamp as they hike Achasan in eastern Seoul on Thursday. [PARK SANG-MOON]

As they walked, the students encountered a red mailbox where they collected their first stamp, a part of the Seoul Trail’s 28 stamping stations. Those who collect all of them in a stamp book can receive the Seoul Trail Completion Certificate.

The hike involved climbing multiple staircases and large rocks, passing diverse scenery such as waterfalls.

The group reached a vantage point at Sunrise Square, which offered stunning city views, including the 555-meter (1,820-foot) Lotte Tower in southern Seoul. The students excitedly posed for photos with the cityscape as a backdrop.

For many participants, this was their first mountain hike in Seoul.

“I would like to go again for a longer time,” said Aleksandra Szlachciak, a 26-year-old student from Poland who recently arrived in Korea.

International students from Yonsei University’s Korean Language Institute pose for a photo at Goguryeo Pavilion on Achasan in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul, on Thursday.[PARK SANG-MOON]

Due to time constraints, the group hiked less than half the 4.6-kilometer course before heading back. On their return, they visited the Goguryeo Pavilion, a spot popular with K-pop fans because of visits by RM and V of the boy band BTS.

Lee Eun-ju, director of the city government’s park and recreation project division, said this was the city’s second such program for international students.

More activities along the Seoul Trail are planned, especially for foreign visitors. The trails, which officially opened on Nov. 15, 2014, are continuously developed based on visitor feedback. Walking festivals are held regularly to encourage Seoulites to enjoy the city's natural beauty.

“Today’s program made me realize how much Seoul values environmental consciousness and maintenance,” said Lin Yun, a doctoral student from Taiwan, as she descended the mountain. “I look forward to more activities like this for foreigners as there are many more mountains to explore in Seoul.”

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]