K-hiking boom drives up subway traffic near Seoul's mountains
Tourists pose during hiking. Courtesy of Seoul Hiking Tourism Center
Ridership at six major subway stations serving as key hiking access points rises by 11.5 percent
Subway stations nearby major Seoul mountains saw a rise in traffic as more tourists took to the hiking trails.
Seoul Metro said on April 17 that ridership at six major subway stations that serve as key hiking access points — Dobongsan Station, Suraksan Station, Achasan Station, Gyeongbokgung Station, Yangjae Station, and Seoul National University Station — rose by an average of 11.5 percent on April 11 compared with the same day a year earlier.
Achasan Station saw the sharpest increase, with average daily passenger traffic reaching 34,000, up 21.9 percent from a year earlier. Dobongsan Station followed with a 16.6 percent increase.
Passenger traffic at stations near Mount Inwang and Mount Bugak also posted double-digit gains, with Gyeongbokgung Station up 12.8 percent and Suraksan Station up 12.7 percent.
Seoul National University Station, which serves Mount Gwanak, a popular hiking destination among younger people, saw an 8.8 percent increase. Yangjae Station, near Mount Cheonggye, also recorded a 6.6 percent rise.
Seoul Metro attributed the increase to the spring hiking season and the growing popularity of hiking among younger Koreans. It also cited rising demand among international tourists for hiking experiences as another major factor.
Seoul Metro said it plans to deploy additional safety personnel and strengthen station announcements in response to crowding at affected stations.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.