By Charles Audouin
Video = Lee Jun Young

Cheong Wa Dae Sarangchae, a tourism exhibition center in front of the former presidential compound of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul's Jongno-gu District, on Sept. 5 at 11 a.m. was packed with people clad in mountain climbing wear for the event "Cheong Wa Dae K-Climbing."

To promote Cheong Wa Dae, which was opened to the public in May last year, and Bugaksan Mountain behind it as leading tourist attractions in Seoul, a group of around 20 hikers including Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Jang Miran, champion mountaineer Um Hong-gil, French TV personality Fabien Yoon, and domestic and foreign college students took part in the course.

Of the 10 tours that the ministry unveiled in April in the Cheong Wa Dae area, the participants took the course featuring Bugaksan, which is part of a Korean climbing event, spanning Chilgung Shrine, the small section Baegakjeong, Cheong Wa Dae Observatory and Cheongwundae Peak.

Located within Cheong Wa Dae, Chilgung houses ancestral tablets for the seven concubines of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) who gave birth to seven kings. The hikers started from Chilgung, passed through Baegakjeong on the way to Bugaksan and reached Cheongwundae. The distance was 3.3 km but certain areas had steep slopes and thus took about two hours to pass. 

"Seoul is a city with a natural environment where you can climb a mountain whenever you want," Vice Minister Jang said. "Please check out the essence of K-Climbing in the Cheong Wa Dae area right here, something that many people only experience in Korea."

"Though neither is that high, Bugaksan and Inwangsan are leading mountains in Seoul," Um added. "Going beyond K-pop and K-food, we hope for the dawn of the K-Climbing era centered on Seoul."

Yoon, a resident of Seochon Village in the city's Jongno-gu District, said, "I'm from Paris so I didn't know about enjoying climbing in a city, but since I live in a neighborhood next to Cheong Wa Dae, I can feel the charm of K-Climbing daily."

Though it was September, the hikers seemed to enjoy their time while sweating. While going toward the leading tourist attraction of Cheong Wa Dae Observatory, they could see Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gwanghwamun Square and N Namsan Tower at a glance.

A Polish student named Honorata was impressed by the city's scenery, saying, "It was nice to see cultural heritage such as Cheong Wa Dae and Gyeongbokgung Palace while walking on the course."

An American student named Alex added, "Climbing was a little difficult but worthwhile since I got to walk in nature and enjoy beautiful scenery."

The ministry from next year will offer mountain hiking tours in the Cheong Wa Dae area by duration and theme and find related courses linked to tourism in leading cities nationwide.

caudouin@korea.kr