"Mountain Accidents Surge in Fall... No Hiking After Drinking; Stay on Designated Trails"

Slip-and-fall accidents most common, accounting for 32.1%
34 firefighting helicopters nationwide on emergency standby
In case of an accident, provide first aid and keep warm

With the number of hikers surging during the fall foliage season, the National Fire Agency has urged people to take precautions for safe hiking.

According to statistics from the National Fire Agency on October 12, a total of 30,583 mountain accident rescue operations were carried out nationwide over the past three years. The number of people rescued was 7,563 in 2023, 7,386 in 2024, and 6,517 in 2025, averaging 7,155 per year.

Hikers are climbing Myeongseongsan in Pocheon using trekking poles. The photo is unrelated to the article.

By month, 12.4% of all rescue operations for the year occurred in October, when temperatures cool and fall foliage reaches its peak, making it the month with the highest incidence of accidents. Accidents were particularly frequent throughout the fall season, from September to November.

By cause, slips and falls were the most common, with 9,806 cases (32.1%), followed by distress and search incidents, with 8,954 cases (29.3%), and personal medical conditions—including convulsions, hypothermia, and other illnesses—with 3,149 cases (10.3%).

Because of the terrain, mountain accidents can make it difficult to dispatch rescuers and transport emergency patients quickly, making firefighting helicopters an important resource. The National Fire Agency is prepared to respond immediately with 34 firefighting helicopters nationwide and is taking proactive measures.

If an emergency or a lost-hiker situation occurs during a hike, the agency urged people to call 119 immediately after checking the national location number plates or mountain location markers installed along hiking trails, or identifying distinctive nearby landmarks. After calling, hikers should use emergency medical supplies from the “emergency rescue kit” placed along the trail to provide first aid, keep warm, and wait calmly for rescue teams.

The National Fire Agency urged hikers to learn and follow its “Seven Fall Hiking Safety Rules” for safe hikes during the fall.

The seven rules are: ① Check the weather forecast and avoid hiking alone; ② Choose a hiking route based on your fitness level and how you feel that day; ③ Start hiking early and descend before sunset; ④ Warm up lightly before hiking; ⑤ Bring a light jacket in preparation for large temperature fluctuations; ⑥ Stay on designated hiking trails; and ⑦ Do not hike after drinking alcohol.

Joo Youngguk, director of the 119 Response Bureau at the National Fire Agency, said, “During the fall, sharp temperature fluctuations and early sunsets mean that even a moment of carelessness can lead to a serious accident.” He urged hikers to “check the weather forecast in advance and, above all, choose a route suited to your fitness level. Please follow basic safety rules, including staying on designated hiking trails and not hiking after drinking alcohol.”

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