Tens of tons of trash are being collected every year across Mount Hallasan in Jeju, with some hikers irresponsibly shoving garbage into hidden crevices, officials said.
According to the Jeju World Heritage Headquarters on Tuesday, the amount of trash collected from Mount Hallasan reached 38 tons in 2016, 52.8 tons in 2017, 35.7 tons in 2018, 40.8 tons in 2019, 28.1 tons in 2020, 39.3 tons in 2021, 38.2 tons in 2022, 36.3 tons in 2023, 36.9 tons in 2024 and 32.4 tons in 2025. The data shows about 30 tons of waste is generated each year.
The situation this year is no different. As of March, 11.7 tons of garbage had already been collected. Food waste, PET bottles, plastic wrappers and snack packaging continue to be discarded along trails, at the summit and near high-altitude restrooms.
The trash problem at the summit of Mount Hallasan is nothing new. In November 2024, about 20 park management staff members were deployed to collect 1.5 tons of garbage from the summit area alone.
Yang Young-soo, then a Jeju Provincial Council member, previously released 14 photographs showing piles of trash around the wooden deck at the Hallasan summit. The images captured plastic water bottles, disposable wooden chopsticks, snack bags and cans apparently left behind by hikers, stuffed into crevices throughout the wooden deck.
In August last year, 19 years' worth of accumulated waste — including PET bottles, snack bags, plastic wrappers and hand warmers — poured out all at once during the dismantling of the summit deck. The deck, installed in 2006, had served as a resting area for hikers.
In response, Hallasan National Park runs a monthly "Grand Cleaning Day" program to maintain trails, parking lots and access roads. It is also running campaigns such as "Take Your Own Trash Back" and "Do Not Leave Ramen Broth Behind."
Smoking, food and trash dumping, unauthorized entry and drinking are prohibited at Hallasan National Park. Violators face fines of up to 2 million won ($1,500).
