October, the peak of South Korea's fall foliage season, records more mountain accidents than any other month of the year. One in eight mountain accidents over the past three years occurred in October, with slips and falls and hikers losing their way accounting for more than 60% of all cases. The National Fire Agency urged hikers to stick to designated trails and descend before sunset as the foliage season draws larger crowds.
Fire crews carried out 30,583 mountain rescues nationwide over the three years from 2023 through last year, the agency said on the 12th. The annual figures declined steadily, from 11,215 in 2023 to 10,276 in 2024 and 9,092 last year. The number of people rescued also fell over the same period, from 7,563 to 6,517, but still averaged 7,155 a year.
By month, October accounted for 12.4% of all rescues, the highest share of the year. Accidents were frequent throughout the autumn, from September through November, as temperatures cooled.
Slips and falls were the leading cause, with 9,806 cases, or 32.1% of the total. Searches for lost or stranded hikers followed at 8,954 cases, or 29.3%, and medical conditions such as seizures and hypothermia accounted for 3,149 cases, or 10.3%.
Rugged terrain makes it hard for rescuers to reach victims and carry them out, giving firefighting helicopters a central role. The agency keeps 34 helicopters deployed across the country on emergency standby.
Hikers who face a medical emergency or become stranded should call 119 after checking national grid reference markers, mountain location signs installed along trails, or nearby landmarks. After calling, they should use emergency medical supplies from the first-aid boxes placed along trails, keep warm and wait for rescuers.
The agency called on hikers to check weather forecasts before setting out this autumn and to choose routes suited to their fitness.
"Autumn hiking carries sharp swings between daytime and nighttime temperatures and early sunsets, so a moment's carelessness can lead to a serious accident," said Joo Young-kook, head of the agency's 119 Response Bureau. "Checking the weather in advance and picking a course that matches your own fitness is more important than anything else." He also urged hikers to follow basic safety rules, including using designated trails and avoiding alcohol on the mountain.