Gwanak-gu runs six-session 'Gwanaksan Masil' tour for foreigners, linking mountain hiking with neighborhood dining and street culture
A hands-on tourism program is drawing foreign visitors from Gwanak Mountain into the nearby Sharosu-gil neighborhood, connecting hiking with local food, culture and small businesses. The initiative aims to extend tourists' time in the area and boost local spending by offering more than a simple mountain climb.
Gwanak-gu announced Tuesday that it has been running "Gwanaksan Masil," a local tour program for foreign visitors that links Gwanak Mountain and Sharosu-gil into a single itinerary.
The program, open to 100 foreign participants, launched Oct. 15 and is set to wrap up with its final session Thursday. All six sessions drew early sellouts, reflecting strong interest in the program.
Participants hike Gwanak Mountain with a cultural guide, hearing stories about the mountain's Buddhist temples, stone pagodas and autumn foliage before ascending to the Yeonjudae summit. After descending, the group moves to Sharosu-gil to explore the alleyways and sample local food and culture.
Gwanak-gu offers coupons redeemable at local businesses through a dedicated Sharosu-gil app and distributes souvenirs handmade by neighborhood merchants. The dual aim is to give tourists a memorable local experience while helping small-business owners promote their products and stores.
The district linked the two destinations to channel the growing influx of foreign visitors into economic activity for the local community. The number of foreign tourists visiting Gwanak Mountain this year has risen more than 10 percent from the same period last year. The district plans to extend hikers' routes into nearby commercial areas so that tourism demand translates into consumer spending.
Gwanak-gu is also pursuing a project that ties summit-verification check-ins on Gwanak Mountain to discount benefits at local businesses. Visitors who verify a Yeonjudae summit climb can receive up to 10 percent discounts at 288 stores across nine nearby commercial districts. Traditional markets and alley shopping streets are also hosting a "relay commercial district festival" that combines street food with cultural experiences.
The district has steadily built up the commercial foundation of Sharosu-gil as well. From 2024 through this year, a 3 billion won ($2.24 million) Seoul Metropolitan Government local brand commercial district development project has upgraded infrastructure, enriched local content and strengthened merchants' capabilities. Following the establishment of a merchants' association last year, the district formed a merchants' cooperative in July — the first among Seoul's local brand commercial districts — laying the groundwork for merchant-led self-sufficiency.
"Foreign tourists visiting Gwanak Mountain are now making their way to Sharosu-gil, giving them a chance to experience the diverse charms of Gwanak-gu," Gwanak-gu District Mayor Park Jun-hee said. "We will continue to expand content that connects tourism with local commercial districts to bring more vitality to the local economy."
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