Information about 33,000 kilometers of mountain trails released by the Korea Forest Service includes geographic coordinates, information about trailheads and trail access, length of the trail, approximate hiking time and level of difficulty. For safety purposes, it also lists the location of position markers, first aid kits, helipads, shelter and drinking water.
Information about 33,000 kilometers of hiking trails across the Korean Peninsula has now been made available to the public.
The five Regional Forest Services — Northern, Eastern, Southern, Western and Central — and local governments surveyed hiking trails starting in 2013. They collected data about geographical coordinates, public transportation, starting points and end points, length, approximate hiking time and level of difficulty. The Ministry of Public Safety and Security also cooperated to provide information about 6,976 safety-related sites, such as the location of position markers, first aid kits, helicopter landing sites, shelter and sources of potable water.
The data were applied to map services provided by web portals Naver and Daum. The data can also be used to develop hiking trail apps by other private entities.
“The hiking trail data collected over three years has been publicized in response to the rising number of hikers and the prevalence of smartphones,” said an official from the Korea Forest Service. “We are continuing in our efforts to provide more convenient services to the public,” he added.
The data on the fully surveyed trails are posted at the Korea Forest Service website (www.forest.go.kr) and at the government’s Open Data Portal (www.data.go.kr).
By Kim Young Shin
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photo: Korea Forest Service
ysk1111@korea.kr
