This photo provided by the Haenam County Office shows a forest path of Mount Dalma, part of the Namparang Trail, in southwestern South Korea.
DAEJEON, Jan. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — Many people think of the trail surrounding Mount Jiri as a challenge that needs to be ‘completed’ while a trail that circles Seoul is perceived as a leisurely destination where people go out for a stroll and take photos on weekends.
The National Institute of Forest Science announced Tuesday how people on social media think of famous forest walkways in the country through big data analysis.
For the study, Kangwon National University and Chonnam National University collected 660,000 online data records containing various indications about South Korea’s famous walkways from 2012 to 2019 and studied the frequency and expressions of each term.
Many people said they ‘gave up’ when it comes to trail around Mount Jiri, alluding to a perception that the hike is seen as a challenge that needs to be ‘walked’ all the way.
In contrast, ‘good’ and ‘recommended’ were some of the terms most frequently used by people visiting the Seoul trail, which is seen as a great weekend destination for strolling and taking photos.
In case of the Baekdudaegan Trail, people most preferred to walk the part of the trail near Inje’s Achimgari Valley, and thought of the place as a perfect observatory for a glimpse into local lifestyle.
The Nakdong-Jeongmaek Trail was decorated with various expressions such as the Santa Village, Canyon Train, Saepyeong Skyway, and many other tourist destinations near the trail. Many people saw the trail as a ‘natural’ space.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
