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Korea Herald
24-05-2025
- Korea Herald
Hide away this summer in idyllic accommodations at national forests
Korea is a country of mountains, and that's what makes a retreat in its verdant forests in summer exceptionally appealing. Ahead of the peak holiday season, officials of the National Recreational Forest, a group of 46 forest retreats across the country maintained by the Korea Forest Service, are busy preparing to receive guests coming for peace, quiet and a cabin with a view. 'Summer vacation season for us kicks off in early June,' one official said, adding rooms at guest favorites among the 46 retreats fill up more quickly. The most favored rooms are sought after because of their proximity to the Seoul area, among other considerations. Last summer, the National Muui Island Recreation Forest in Incheon was the hardest to book, and some of those who were successful said the retreat had exceeded their expectations. 'Stunning sunset views,' Lim Hyo-jung said of her trip last year to the retreat, an hour drive from where she lives in central Seoul. Her cabin overlooked Hanagae Beach on the western side of the island of Muuido in the West Sea, a vantage point for 'explosive pink sunsets and sea views.' For Lim, 22, who is a committed cyclist more used to uphill climbs and relaxed descents than shaded strolls, trails around the nearby mountain of Horyonggoksan unexpectedly led her to revisit. 'I thought I hated walking trails. I didn't. I just hadn't liked being crowded when strolling around, because that made me more aware of what's around me rather than what's on my mind,' Lim said. Buoyant seaside retreat The National Byeonsan Recreation Forest retreat in Buan-gun, North Jeolla Province, was the first among the 46 retreats in the country along the coastline of the West Sea, a difference that makes for an epic coastal trail. 'My personal favorite is the observatory deck looking over the sea,' said Pyo Hyung-min, who traveled west from Daegu, his hometown about a three-hour drive away. 'You can see the sun sparkling on the water and hear the sound of the water splashing,' Pyo explained. Pyo, 45, the father of two preteen children, traveled there last August on a summer trip that included stops across the Jeolla provinces. Hong Ji-min, 32, said she most liked the living room that afforded an obstructed sea view. All cabins at the Byeonsan retreat boast such windows. 'We didn't feel like going out to actually see the shore, so we left a part of the window open to let the breeze in,' Hong said of her trip last summer with her husband and his family. Mountains streams For Kim Han-soo and his two preteen children, giggles and splashing in mountain streams matter more than sea views. That's why the Kims, who live in Gyeonggi Province, are planning to make a repeat visit soon to the National Daeyasan Recreation Forest retreat in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province. 'For us, children come first, and they like splashing. They aren't old enough to be left alone swimming, which my wife and I wouldn't approve of anyway,' Kim said of streams inside the forested retreat with water levels just deep enough for children to splash about under parental guidance. 'They are everywhere, tall trees by the streams at the retreat. They are a sunshade bringing the summer temperatures down,' Kim added. The Daeyasan retreat is known for its pine and oak trees. Breathing in phytoncides, the aromatic tree oils considered therapeutic, while walking the trails lined with oak trees with outstretched leaves and stately trunks is the hallmark of a stay at the retreat for many guests, according to a National Daeyasan Recreation Forest official, drawing on regular surveys of visitors. Lisa Kim said she was satisfied overall with her recent stay, noting she had found 'nature peace and calm.' But the Korean American added, 'Cotton mats on hard floors made sleep really uncomfortable. It's such a shame that this place had no better daybeds, which to some could be a turnoff.' siyoungchoi@
Korea Herald
24-05-2025
- Korea Herald
Escape to forest retreats
Hide away this summer in idyllic accommodations at national forests Korea is a country of mountains, and that's what makes a retreat in its verdant forests in summer exceptionally appealing. Ahead of the peak holiday season, officials of the National Recreational Forest, a group of 46 forest retreats across the country maintained by the Korea Forest Service, are busy preparing to receive guests coming for peace, quiet and a cabin with a view. 'Summer vacation season for us kicks off in early June,' one official said, adding rooms at guest favorites among the 46 retreats fill up more quickly. The most favored rooms are sought after because of their proximity to the Seoul area, among other considerations. Last summer, the National Muui Island Recreation Forest in Incheon was the hardest to book, and some of those who were successful said the retreat had exceeded their expectations. 'Stunning sunset views,' Lim Hyo-jung said of her trip last year to the retreat, an hour drive from where she lives in central Seoul. Her cabin overlooked Hanagae Beach on the western side of the island of Muuido in the West Sea, a vantage point for 'explosive pink sunsets and sea views.' For Lim, 22, who is a committed cyclist more used to uphill climbs and relaxed descents than shaded strolls, trails around the nearby mountain of Horyonggoksan unexpectedly led her to revisit. 'I thought I hated walking trails. I didn't. I just hadn't liked being crowded when strolling around, because that made me more aware of what's around me rather than what's on my mind,' Lim said. Buoyant seaside retreat The National Byeonsan Recreation Forest retreat in Buan-gun, North Jeolla Province, was the first among the 46 retreats in the country along the coastline of the West Sea, a difference that makes for an epic coastal trail. 'My personal favorite is the observatory deck looking over the sea,' said Pyo Hyung-min, who traveled west from Daegu, his hometown about a three-hour drive away. 'You can see the sun sparkling on the water and hear the sound of the water splashing,' Pyo explained. Pyo, 45, the father of two preteen children, traveled there last August on a summer trip that included stops across the Jeolla provinces. Hong Ji-min, 32, said she most liked the living room that afforded an obstructed sea view. All cabins at the Byeonsan retreat boast such windows. 'We didn't feel like going out to actually see the shore, so we left a part of the window open to let the breeze in,' Hong said of her trip last summer with her husband and his family. Mountains streams For Kim Han-soo and his two preteen children, giggles and splashing in mountain streams matter more than sea views. That's why the Kims, who live in Gyeonggi Province, are planning to make a repeat visit soon to the National Daeyasan Recreation Forest retreat in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province. 'For us, children come first, and they like splashing. They aren't old enough to be left alone swimming, which my wife and I wouldn't approve of anyway,' Kim said of streams inside the forested retreat with water levels just deep enough for children to splash about under parental guidance. 'They are everywhere, tall trees by the streams at the retreat. They are a sunshade bringing the summer temperatures down,' Kim added. The Daeyasan retreat is known for its pine and oak trees. Breathing in phytoncides, the aromatic tree oils considered therapeutic, while walking the trails lined with oak trees with outstretched leaves and stately trunks is the hallmark of a stay at the retreat for many guests, according to a National Daeyasan Recreation Forest official, drawing on regular surveys of visitors. Lisa Kim said she was satisfied overall with her recent stay, noting she had found 'nature peace and calm.' But the Korean American added, 'Cotton mats on hard floors made sleep really uncomfortable. It's such a shame that this place had no better daybeds, which to some could be a turnoff.'
Korea Herald
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Korea Herald
Confused command leaves South Korea unprepared as wildfires spread out of control: report
From 2010-2020, average area scorched by wildfires in South Korea grew 7.8 times bigger, large-scale fires more than tripled As South Korea recovers from its worst wildfire disaster on record, a National Assembly report warns that a fragmented and confusing command structure left firefighting efforts slow and disorganized. In March more than 20 wildfires broke out across the peninsula's southeastern Gyeongsang provinces, fueled by strong winds and dry weather. The fires burned over 104,000 hectares of forest, killed 31 people, and damaged nearly 8,000 homes and facilities. Also affected were 33 cultural heritage sites, including centuries-old temples. It was the most destructive wildfire event in South Korea's history. A report from the National Assembly Research Service published earlier this month points to a key vulnerability in the country's disaster command structure. Under current law, responsibility for wildfire response shifts depending on the size and spread of the fire. The Enforcement Decree of the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety designates the national Korea Forest Service as the lead agency. But the Forest Protection Act assigns command to local mayors or governors, depending on the fire's size and location. This dual system creates delays and confusion, particularly in the early stages of a wildfire when quick decisions are critical. In the southeastern Uiseong and Yeongdeok regions, emergency orders were reportedly inconsistent, and firefighting efforts were slowed by coordination problems between local officials, the KFS and the National Fire Agency. Wildfires are currently managed through a 13-level response system based on area burned, wind speed and duration. In the initial stages, local authorities can only deploy 50 personnel and limited equipment according to the current law. They must wait for the situation to escalate before receiving outside reinforcement, an approach the report pinpoints as ineffective in fast-moving scenarios. Yoo Jae-beom, the legislative researcher behind the report specializing in the forestry sector, recommends simplifying this system to two or three tiers and transferring early-stage command to either the forest authority, fire response authority or provincial governments. He also supports establishing joint regional wildfire command centers to ensure faster coordination across agencies. Other data cited in the report suggest damage has been growing even before the March wildfires. The average area burned by wildfires in 2020 increased 7.8 times compared to 2010. The number of large-scale wildfires, which are defined as fires damaging over 1 million square meters, has more than tripled (3.7 times). The report also raises concerns over weak enforcement of fire prevention laws. Between 2019 and 2023, fewer than 20 percent of individuals apprehended for starting wildfires, whether through arson or negligence, received jail time or fines. The average fine issued in 2023 was just 2.8 million won (about $2,000). "The fire season now begins in winter, spreads faster in spring and burns more land than ever before," said the research. "Unless we align laws, restructure response systems and invest in fire-resilient forests, the scale of disaster will only grow." mjh@
Korea Herald
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Korea Herald
Confused command leaves South Korea unprepared as wildfires spread out of control: report
From 2010-2020, average area scorched by wildfires in South Korea grew 7.8 times bigger, large-scale fires more than tripled As South Korea recovers from its worst wildfire disaster on record, a National Assembly report warns that a fragmented and confusing command structure left firefighting efforts slow and disorganized. In March more than 20 wildfires broke out across the peninsula's southeastern Gyeongsang provinces, fueled by strong winds and dry weather. The fires burned over 104,000 hectares of forest, killed 31 people, and damaged nearly 8,000 homes and facilities. Also affected were 33 cultural heritage sites, including centuries-old temples. It was the most destructive wildfire event in South Korea's history. A report from the National Assembly Research Service published earlier this month points to a key vulnerability in the country's disaster command structure. Under current law, responsibility for wildfire response shifts depending on the size and spread of the fire. The Enforcement Decree of the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety designates the national Korea Forest Service as the lead agency. But the Forest Protection Act assigns command to local mayors or governors, depending on the fire's size and location. This dual system creates delays and confusion, particularly in the early stages of a wildfire when quick decisions are critical. In the southeastern Uiseong and Yeongdeok regions, emergency orders were reportedly inconsistent, and firefighting efforts were slowed by coordination problems between local officials, the KFS and the National Fire Agency. Wildfires are currently managed through a 13-level response system based on area burned, wind speed and duration. In the initial stages, local authorities can only deploy 50 personnel and limited equipment according to the current law. They must wait for the situation to escalate before receiving outside reinforcement, an approach the report pinpoints as ineffective in fast-moving scenarios. Yoo Jae-beom, the legislative researcher behind the report specializing in the forestry sector, recommends simplifying this system to two or three tiers and transferring early-stage command to either the forest authority, fire response authority or provincial governments. He also supports establishing joint regional wildfire command centers to ensure faster coordination across agencies. Other data cited in the report suggest damage has been growing even before the March wildfires. The average area burned by wildfires in 2020 increased 7.8 times compared to 2010. The number of large-scale wildfires, which are defined as fires damaging over 1 million square meters, has more than tripled (3.7 times). The report also raises concerns over weak enforcement of fire prevention laws. Between 2019 and 2023, fewer than 20 percent of individuals apprehended for starting wildfires, whether through arson or negligence, received jail time or fines. The average fine issued in 2023 was just 2.8 million won (about $2,000). "The fire season now begins in winter, spreads faster in spring and burns more land than ever before," said the research. "Unless we align laws, restructure response systems and invest in fire-resilient forests, the scale of disaster will only grow."
Ammon
28-04-2025
- Climate
- Ammon
South Korean city orders more than 1,200 residents to evacuate due to wildfire
Ammon News - The South Korean city of Daegu ordered on Monday more than 1,200 residents to evacuate after strong winds whipped up a wildfire and prompted the closure of a highway in the area due to concerns about the wildfire began at around 2 p.m. (0500 GMT) and had affected an estimated 50 hectares (123.6 acres) in less than two hours due to dry conditions and constant winds, the Korea Forest Service said in a casualties had been reported so far due to the fire around Daegu, which is about 233 km (145 miles) southeast of the capital Korea Forest Service said 26 helicopters and 202 firefighting personnel were deployed to the site, while a section of the Gyeongbu highway was March, South Korea suffered the country's worst ever natural fire disaster, with nearly 30 people killed and historic temples incinerated. Reuters
