Visitors rent hiking equipment at a national park support center. Courtesy of Korea National Park Service
Hikers heading into Korea’s rugged national parks this summer will no longer need to arrive fully equipped, as the government sharply expands a free safety gear rental program aimed at preventing mountain accidents before they happen.
The Korea National Park Service said Wednesday that it had expanded its free hiking equipment rental service to all 20 mountain-based national parks across the country, up from 12 parks last year.
Beginning this month, the service added eight more parks, including Naejangsan, Gayasan, Juwangsan, Sobaeksan, Wolchulsan, Byeonsan and Taebaeksan.
Geumjeongsan will begin rentals in July.
