STO Launches ‘Seoul 7 Peaks Challenge Program’ Targeting Foreigners

Kil Ki-yon, President & CEO of the Seoul Tourism Organization. (Photos: STO)

Seoul Tourism Organization (STO) held a ceremony to kick off the “Seoul 7 Peaks Challenge Program” at the Uidong Meeting Plaza on April 8.

About 300 foreigners are expected to participate in the program, which will last until the end of July. It is designed to help hike seven famous peaks in Seoul.

The program allows participants to choose seven peaks out of Seoul’s major mountains: Mt. Bukhan, Mt. Bukak, Mt. Inwang, Mt. Gwanak, Mt. Bulam, Mt. Acha, Mt. Namsan, Mt. Dobong, Mt. Surak, and Mt. Cheonggye.

Foreigners attend a ceremony to kick off “Seoul 7 Peaks Challenge Program” at the Uidong Meeting Plaza on April 8. (Photos: STO)

They are required to hike each of the seven mountains and verify the achievement by shooting a photo with a message towel. Finishers will be presented with souvenirs when they finishing the program.

Applications may be accepted through the official Instagram channel of the program (@seoulhikingtourism_official). About 100 foreign hikers participated in the ceremony to launch the program on April 8.

Participants prepared for the hike with rental gear from Seoul Tourism Hiking Center, plus a guidebook on tourism hiking and map before heading for the Uidong Meeting Plaza to attend the kick-off ceremony.

The participants were given a chance to familiarize the program and they attend a ceremony in which they vowed to finish off the program.

Following the kick-off ceremony, participants started to hike the program’s first challenge course, Baegundae Peak of Mt. Bukhan.

Sydney Gates, a U.S. national and one of the participants at the ceremony, said, “I’ve participated in the challenge program to come to Korea, meet with new people and fully appreciate what Seoul offers.”

Foreigners hike the program’s first challenge course, Baegundae Peak of Mt. Bukhan.

He said climbing Baegundae Peak of Mt. Bukhan and commanding a view of Seoul from the top was very beautiful and he expressed his expectation of hiking other mountains through the program and accomplishing it.

STO opened Seoul Tourism Hiking Center in Uidong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, last September.

The step is designed to step up hiking tourism in central areas of Seoul. The center offers useful services, such as hiking tourism guide, hiking gear rentals and the operation of a lounge.

Starting in March, the center has conducted a hiking experience program catering to foreigners on Saturdays. For details, pls turn to the website of Seoul’s hiking tourism (http://www.seoulhiking.or.kr/).

STO plans to open the Seoul Tourism Hiking Center near Mt. Bukak and Mt. Inwang this year as part of efforts to boost Seoul’s hiking tourism.

Lee Jun-hoo, a team chief in charge of tourism resources development at STO, said, “Seoul 7 Peaks Challenge Program is hoped to become an opportunity to experience the beauty of Seoul’s mountains, and STO will make efforts to make a pitch of hiking diverse mountains in downtown Seoul and diversify hiking tourism content.”