"K-Hiking Takes Off: France’s 240,000-Member Trekking Group Walks from Bukhansan to Jirisan in Korea"

About 40 FFRandonnée Members Visiting Korea;
Minister Choi Hwi-young and Um Hong-gil Join the Hike
Goal to Attract 3 Million National Park Visitors by 2028

Members of the French trekking association Randonneurs are visiting major mountains and tourist attractions in Korea, including Bukhansan and Jirisan, to experience 'K-walking travel.'

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hwi-Young Choi is walking along the Bukhansan Dulle-gil in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul on the 30th with members of the French large-scale trekking group Randonneurs Association and mountaineer Hong-Gil Um. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that on August 30, Minister Hwi-young Choi will meet with 11 members of the French Federation Francaise de la Randonnee at the Suyu branch office of Bukhansan National Park in Seoul to welcome their visit and introduce the appeal of Korean mountain tourism. Renowned mountaineer Hong-gil Um will accompany the group, walking together in Bukhansan National Park and sharing mountain and walking culture between the two countries.

Founded in 1947, the Randonneurs is a French federation specializing in hiking and trekking sports, with 240,000 members, 110 regional committees, and 3,200 member clubs. Authorized by the French government, it manages hiking trails nationwide, promotes recreational walking, trains instructors, and produces trail maps, among other activities.

This visit was arranged through promotional and marketing efforts by the Korea Tourism Organization to introduce Korean walking tour products in France. Approximately 40 members of the Randonneurs will visit Korea over three separate trips, with each group spending 11 days and 10 nights exploring key Korean walking destinations.

The itinerary begins in Seoul at Bukhansan and continues to Hahoe Folk Village in Andong, Namsan in Gyeongju, Geumjeongsan in Busan, Suncheonman Bay, and Jirisan. The group will also experience a templestay at Hwaeomsa Temple. The trip combines mountain and walking tours with regional history and cultural content.

This visit is also linked to the 'K-Trekking Challenge' being promoted by the Korea Tourism Organization and the Korea National Park Service. The two agencies signed a business agreement on July 8 and are working together to attract three million visitors to national parks by 2028, with a focus on promoting K-Trekking to foreign tourists.

The K-Trekking Challenge, running until November, provides foreigners visiting Bukhansan, Seoraksan, Odaesan, and Gyeongju National Parks with free rental of nine different hiking safety items, including hiking boots, poles, backpacks, knee protectors, emergency kits, and crampons, as well as offering souvenirs.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism views mountain tourism—where visitors stay for long periods, engaging in walking and hiking—as a tourism offering that can increase both tourist stays and regional spending, and plans to expand development of extended-stay tourism products that connect local nature and cultural assets.

Kang Jeong-won, policy chief at the ministry, stated, "Korea is blessed with four distinct seasons, and the entire country is dotted with beautiful and diverse mountains, historical and cultural resources, and attractive walking tour assets. I hope that the visit of the Randonneurs members will serve as an opportunity to promote Korea's walking tours to the world."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.