Ch.9 Modern Korea’s Recreation and green Well-being of their Mountain Forests. There is a clear, signposted and well-made trail over only some sections of the Baekdudaegan crest so far, developed by the Korea Forest Service in conjunction with local authorities. Some parts of the trail within national parks are closed for nature preservation purposes, without any clear detour-routes being designated. Other sections of the crest-trail are still quite wild, still being created by the hikers themselves. Information is still much more difficult to find than it ought to be. However, all these factors are improving every single month, as development is carried out by the concerned agencies and increasing attention to the ecological health of the remaining natural regions is also being paid by all of those concerned and involved with Korea‘s ―green‖ movements.
opportunities to learn about and experience some of Korea's long and diverse history, civil and international conflicts, rural lifestyles, religious and spiritual traditions, great historical personalities, delicious foods and drinks, architectural styles both ancient and modern, health-enhancing practices and even its mysteries. Whether staying up on the crest, or descending into one of the many beautiful gorges off its sides, or stopping off in remote villages for recuperation, hikers will meet many of Korea's friendliest, wisest and most hospitable people, both avid hikers and countryside residents – who themselves just might be the mountain-system‘s greatest treasures.
The trail within South Korea is generally said to be from eastern Jiri-san to a pass just north of the Seorak-san National Park, which is the route taken by the 10-week ―2007 Baekdudaegan Expedition‖ accomplished by two hikers from New Zealand. That private expedition, resulting in a published Guidebook, was a Forest education being conducted by the demonstration of what is involved in hiking the Korea Forest Service entire trail while taking the time to stop at its maIn order to halt further ecojor cultural and religious attractions, with a sense of logical damage and restore what can still be preserved, fascination with Korea‘s traditional mountain-forest culthe government granted the Baekdu-daegan official ture that only increases with such long treks. recognition for the first time in 2003, when it mandated the preservation and proper management of "the backHiking on the Baekdu-daegan offers visitors not only bone of the Korean peninsula and the treasure-house sweeping views of stupendous natural beauty, but also
A Baekdu-daegan tablet sits under a village Guardian Tree and Stone Altar in Nochi-maeul village on the Baekdu-daegan
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