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Mount Gwanak: Hiking for fortune finders or a vandal's adventure?

Published: 05 May. 2026, 14:29 Updated: 05 May. 2026, 15:25

A puddle on Mount Gwanak is filled with ramyeon broth and pieces of garbage in a photo shared on the social media platform Threads on May 3. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Mount Gwanak, which is said to bring luck to hikers, is now paying the price for its fame with a surge in littering, according to a recent online post.

In a photo uploaded to the social media platform Threads on Sunday, a puddle near the mountain's Yeonjudae peak can be seen filled with broth from instant noodles and discarded items such as ice cream wrappers and tissues.

“The people who dumped ramyeon broth and trash at the summit of Mount Gwanak are truly garbage themselves,” wrote the user who posted the photo. “This is water that birds, cats and wildlife animals could drink.”

The photo soon spread across online forums and platforms, where criticism by internet users followed.

“There are so many brainless hikers,” one anonymous commentator wrote.

“Damage to the mountain is piling up since it became a hotspot for good fortune,” another internet user wrote. “It’s becoming a hotspot for trash instead.”

Mount Gwanak has seen a surge in visitors, particularly among people in their 20s and 30s, after a fortune teller said on a television program in February that “hiking up Mount Gwanak can open the door to better energy when things aren’t working out.”

A total of 5,217 people visited Mount Gwanak in February this year, up 9.6 percent from 4,848 the same month in the previous year, according to the Seoul Tourism Organization.

A graffiti spray-painted on Madangbawi, a prominent rock on Mount Gwanak, can be seen in this recent photo. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Reports of other damage linked to the growing crowds have also surfaced in recent weeks.

Last month, a graffiti which reads, “Mount Gwanak has no luck for you — suckers,” was sprayed on Madangbawi, a well-known rock along the mountain’s primary hiking trail.

Seven workers from the Gwanak District Office spent about 90 minutes removing it, and authorities have filed a police report in an effort to find the person responsible, according to local news reports.

Mount Gwanak — designated as an urban natural park — is protected under the Act on Urban Parks and Green Areas. Damaging its conditions or making unauthorized alterations can result in fines of up to 3 million won ($2,033).

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY JANG GU-SEUL [[email protected]]