“I Came to Korea for This”: Foreign Tourists Flock to K-Hiking, Now a Must-Do_trip

Urban accessibility and free gear rentals cited as advantages
Traffic to hiking tours in Korea among foreign tourists up 22%

“K-hiking” is drawing attention as a new travel activity among foreign tourists visiting Korea.

K-hiking wins over foreign tourists... Public transit access and pleasant hiking conditions

On November 11, Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (SCMP) featured the hiking experiences of foreign tourists who took part in “2026 Seoul Hiking Week.”

Ping, a participant from Thailand, said, “There is no autumn in Thailand, so this was my first time seeing fall foliage, and it was really beautiful.” During the hike, Ping also shared snacks with other hikers. “I really like climbing a mountain with so many people,” Ping said. “At first, we didn’t know one another, but we became friends after spending a good time together.”

Accessibility is one of the attractions of hiking in Seoul. Visitors can enjoy a hike without traveling far from downtown Seoul by taking the subway or a bus.

“K-hiking” is emerging as a new travel trend among foreign tourists. Screenshot from Instagram.

The availability of free hiking gear rentals is another advantage. Before setting out, visitors can borrow hiking poles, gloves, backpacks, windbreakers and hiking boots free of charge from the Seoul Hiking Tourism Center.

Kiran Mamgain, an Indian yoga instructor based in Seoul, praised Korea’s hiking facilities and trail maintenance. “What impressed me most was how well-equipped the hiking facilities are and how well the trails are maintained,” Mamgain said. “Aside from rugged, rocky mountain paths, there are many flat sections.” Mamgain added, “Wooden stairs and boardwalks are also well installed, so even people with little hiking experience can choose a relatively easy mountain and fully enjoy the view from the summit.”

Daniel Kim, a Korean creator born in Brazil, also took part in the event. “Thanks to BTS, Korea’s popularity in Brazil right now is beyond anything you can imagine,” Kim said. “There is a lot of interest in Korean culture, including K-pop and K-dramas, so I wanted to experience K-hiking for myself.”

The photo is not directly related to the article. Yonhap News Agency.

Tourists from the U.S. and Europe show interest in hiking tours in Korea... Bukhansan and Seoraksan are popular

Statistics also reflect foreign tourists’ interest in K-hiking. Global travel platform Klook said that traffic to hiking-related tours on its platform rose by about 22% from July 1 to October 10 this year compared with the same period last year. Traffic measures browsing activity, such as product views, and differs from the number of actual bookings.

By country and region, traffic from users in the United States and Europe rose 38% and 34%, respectively, outpacing the overall growth rate. After the United States and Europe, users in Taiwan, Singapore and the Philippines browsed hiking tours most frequently, in that order.

In Seoul, half-day tours of Bukhansan that can be enjoyed alongside sightseeing in the city drew attention. Traffic for small-group half-day tours of Bukhansan rose year over year by 39% among users in the United States and 83% among users in Europe.

Outside Seoul, traffic for tours related to Seoraksan rose 87% year over year, the highest growth rate.

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