Gwacheon City has launched an emergency cleanup after public outrage over reports that a pond near the summit of Mount Gwanak had been contaminated with ramen broth and trash discarded by hikers.
Gamrocheon Contamination Controversy Prompts Emergency Cleanup
According to Gwacheon City in Gyeonggi Province on Tuesday, the city carried out an emergency cleanup that day, using bowls and other tools to drain the polluted water pooled near the summit of Mount Gwanak and to collect trash. To prevent further contamination, the city plans to station staff on site for the time being to monitor illegal dumping and conduct public education activities. The Gwanak District Office is also said to be preparing measures to prevent recurrence, including increasing the number of Mount Gwanak forest keepers and expanding patrol frequency.
The controversy began with a photo posted on the social media platform Threads on the 2nd of this month. The poster, identified only as A, reported that "ramen broth and trash have been dumped in Gamrocheon," and the photos showed various types of garbage, including ice cream wrappers and tissues, scattered around a pond that had turned red. The post quickly spread through online communities and social media, drawing anger from citizens.
Gamrocheon is formed by the convergence of valley streams, and the contamination is believed to have been caused by trash flowing down from near the summit.
Damage Cases Mount After Visitor Surge, Fines Up to 3 Million Won
Mount Gwanak has seen a sharp rise in visitors since January, when renowned fortune teller Park Seong-jun appeared on tvN's entertainment program "You Quiz on the Block" and recommended a visit, describing it as "a mountain with good energy."
The problem is that such attention is leading to unexpected side effects. Last month, an act of vandalism occurred in which yellow lacquer graffiti reading "There is no Mount Gwanak luck for you, nyah-nyah" was etched onto Madang Rock on the mountain. Upon learning of the incident, the Gwanak District Office quickly completed restoration work and requested a police investigation. The thickly applied lacquer made removal difficult, and concerns were raised that the rock could be permanently damaged.
As awareness has spread that such acts go beyond simple pranks and constitute damage to public assets, calls for punishment have grown louder. Mount Gwanak is designated as an urban natural park, and damaging facilities there can result in fines of up to 3 million won under relevant laws. Some observers note that the attention concentrated in a short period has produced the side effect of natural damage, and that the downside of the hot-spot craze should be guarded against.
