National parks nationwide last year attracted 2.05 million foreign visitors. Shown is spring scenery at Bukhansan National Park in Seoul. (Korea National Park Service)
By Margareth Theresia
The Korea National Park Service under the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment on March 25 released statistics saying 1.13 million tourists from overseas and 920,000 expats visited such parks last year.
Hallasan National Park attracted the most such visitors with 270,000, followed by Dadohaehaesang National Park with 140,000 and the national parks of Taeanhaean and Hallyeohaesang with 130,000 each.
By nationality, Chinese accounted for the most with 250,000, followed by Taiwanese with 130,000, Filipinos 90,000, Indonesians 80,000, Americans 60,000 and Japanese 50,000.
Autumn was the most popular season at the parks thanks to fall foliage and mild weather, followed by spring and summer.
The KNPS will expand visitor services to meet the rapidly growing number of foreign travelers.
A safety backpack rental service will include hiking boots and trekking poles and an artificial intelligence-based multilingual guidance system will improve access to information. And a ranger tour program exclusively for foreign visitors will create a safer and more convenient hiking environment.
margareth@korea.kr