History
Ever since Jirisan became Korea’s first national park in 1967, measures have been taken to conserve the environment of the parks. Early on, these measures were of little effect and barely enforced. It was very common throughout the ‘70s, ‘80s, and even ‘90s to see several dozens of people wading in a tiny pool of a mountain stream. Although nineteen more national parks were designated over the next two decades following Jirisan, it was not until 1987 that the National Parks Service was created.
Before the Service, management of the parks was left to local governments. This proved to be ineffective, impractical, and cause of problems as policy could differ from park to park. With the National Parks Service in place, real initiative to develop effective park policy was underway. The Parks Service aimed to bring Korea’s parks up to standards typical of more developed nations. Money, time, and effort was spent to restore degraded regions and to close off sections of parks that had become so damaged by human action that their biodiversity had become seriously compromised. Effective management was being developed.
Today
Today, the Parks Service carries on with its mission to maintain the natural, cultural, and recreational integrity of Korea’s national parks. The Service is not perfect, and the KMPL has had its fair share of negative experiences with them, but they do stand as Korea’s authority over the maintenance of the parks. Just the same, the KMPL maintains the stance that the prime factor in the management of Korea’s parks is not in fact the Parks Service, but you, the mountaineer.
Our Role
High places can create a kinship in those who go to them, and this kinship is timeless, it speaks no language and devotes itself to no culture. Mountaineers are inherently linked by their shared pursuit for higher ground. We may each have different ideas about what mountains offer us, but the one constant that ensures our connectedness, a fellowship unmoved by the effects of time and distance, is our responsibility. We are responsible for the well-being of the mountains. We go to them to soothe our doubts and fears, to challenge our minds and bodies, to teach us of nature, culture and of ourselves, and so it is our duty to maintain active roles in the preservation of the mountains and the management of the parks.
Onward
Although we can recognize connectedness with our fellow mountaineers of eras past, times have changed. Exploitation and attitudes of conquering are archaic. It’s not good enough to simply go to mountains and walk and climb over them. It is responsible and good to know even just a little about the mountains, their wildlife, biodiversity, and ecology. Knowledge is the foundation of positive action. The more we know about mountains the more we can do to limit and reduce our impacts upon them. As 21st century mountaineers, knowledge is the root of our responsibilities.
The 21st century mountaineer is a master of the minimal impact code and is not only conscious of limiting impact but actively participates in the advancement of the craft. However, it is not enough for our gear, equipment and techniques to be continually advancing, but the evolution of our mindsets and philosophies is of greater importance.
It is good to recall the connectedness that we inherently share with mountaineers of our present time and with those of the past; yet, we must more thoroughly keep our minds on the mountaineers of posterity. We must be sure to provide them with the same roughhewn beauty of the mountains that we enjoy now.