New Zealander promotes charms of Korea's mountains

Roger Shepherd

By Kim Bo-eun

Korea is popularly known by foreigners for its flashy streets in Gangnam, city nightscapes and advanced IT gadgets.

Few foreigners, let alone locals, know about its mountains and natural landscapes.

Yet New Zealander Roger Shepherd, 50, has acquired extensive knowledge of Korea’s terrain as well as an understanding of the local culture from his years of hiking here.

Interestingly, Shepherd was not a hiker before he started trekking Korea’s mountains.

He spent eight years in Africa where he was a safari guide and wildlife ranger.

Back in his home country, he was a diplomatic protection officer with the New Zealand police. Shepherd was a guard for the Prime Minister and heads of foreign states visiting the country. He guarded former President Lee Myung-bak when he visited New Zealand in 2009.

“I always enjoyed outdoor life, but the Korean mountains got me interested in the idea of walking the ridges non-stop,” Shepherd said. “‘Baekdudaegan’ was the pinnacle of it.”

Baekdudaegan is the mountain ridge along the length of the Korean Peninsula. He discovered it a decade ago when he came here for a vacation.

Shepherd returned in 2007 to trek the chain of mountains and decided to write a guidebook. In 2009, he hiked Korea’s mountains for six months.

“Inspired by my 2009 walk, I decided to start a business offering tourists guided hikes and to settle down here,” said Shepherd, who has been in Korea since.

His company, Hike Korea, not only provides guided hikes but also offers tours to Korea’s cultural and historical attractions in lesser-known areas outside urban districts.

Granted access to hiking the northern section of the ridge in North Korea, Shepherd was able to hike the entirety of what is considered Korea’s backbone.

“I like that Korea is a tapestry of ridges that are all interconnected to each other, and can be walked relatively freely without much restriction,” he said.

“The scenery and culture connected to the Korean mountains is also fascinating.”

Shepherd produced several books based on his hiking experiences. “The Baekdu Daegan Trail” is the first English guide of Korea’s mountains. The following photo book edition is the first holistic feature of mountain images of both Koreas.

Shepherd plans to publish two more books this year, including a storybook of interviews with foreigners who have hiked Baekdudaegan, which will be available in English and Korean.

Shepherd, who is based in Gurye County in South Jeolla Province, provides mountain guides for foreigners visiting Korea, gives lectures, writes and takes photographs of his hiking experiences. He is also involved in efforts of inter-Korean exchange.

Last year, Shepherd exhibited his photographs in Pyongyang on Liberation Day on Aug. 15. A total of 70 works were put on display, as Korea marked its 70th anniversary of liberation from Japan’s colonial rule.

He also took a group of motorcyclists on a tour of North Korea.

“I hope my work can help people in both the North and South to better know each other and will warm people’s hearts toward a future Korea with everybody living in peace.”