By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
N Seoul Tower on the top of Mt. Nam in the heart of Seoul is one of the most popular tourist destinations for both Koreans and international visitors.
However, Seoul City started regulating traffic to Mt. Nam from May 2005 to reduce emissions from vehicles.
Foreign tourists with their passports using taxis, the disabled, vehicles with 13 or more passengers and other maintenance vehicles are permitted to travel up the mountain. Others have to walk or take a shuttle bus.
"Before the ordinance came into force, an average of 1,800 cars traveled around the mountain on weekdays and 3,700 cars on weekends in 2004. The number is now decreased to around 200," Lee Dong-you who works with Seoul City said.
Although five years has passed, people still do not know the intricacies of the traffic ban and claim that it's unfair."We receive civil petitions regarding the traffic control almost every day," Lee said. "Some take pictures of cars at the mountaintop and we have to explain why certain cars are permitted to get in."
The most complaints received are about vehicles used for filming.
As the mountain has beautiful scenery, it is a popular spot for shooting television dramas, movies and commercials. "There are many small and large film shoots going on at Mt. Nam. The number varies according to the day of the week and the season. For instance, four teams shot on Wednesday," Lee said.
"People feel deprived when they see luxury vehicles belonging to entertainers or vehicles with filming equipment passing them while they have to walk or take a bus," he said.
"Moreover, some tourist buses do not turn off their engines at the mountaintop parking lot, which contrasts with the purpose of the traffic restriction."
The officials recognize the need to revise the ordinance, but it is difficult to find a middle ground between the environmental sustainability and profits of tourism, Lee added.