Instant noodle broth damages famous mountain in South Korea

Mount Halla on Jeju Island, South Korea

The Hallasan Mountain National Park Office has launched a campaign to encourage climbers not to dump instant noodle water on the mountain or into streams, to protect the “clean environment.”

Halla, at 1,947 meters, is the tallest mountain in South Korea and is located on the popular tourist destination of Jeju Island. According to South Korean government statistics, 923,680 people visited Mount Halla in 2023. In South Korea, mountaineers often bring instant noodles in disposable cups to eat during the day.

There are many banners around the mountain with the message “Let’s preserve Halla Mountain clean and pass it on to our children as it is now.” There are also signs urging climbers to limit the amount of instant noodle broth they consume.

“Instant noodle broth contains a lot of salt, so releasing salt along the valley’s waterways will make it impossible for aquatic insects to live in the polluted water,” the Hallasan National Park Office posted on Facebook.

Smoking, leaving food and garbage behind, drinking alcohol, and trespassing are all prohibited on Mount Halla. Violators can face fines of up to 2,000,000 won (US$1,600).

Jeju police launched a crackdown on June 25 following numerous complaints from residents regarding tourist behavior on the island. Tourists can be fined for a range of offenses including littering, public urination and smoking in prohibited areas. According to Jeju police, nine foreign tourists were fined and paid on the spot on the first day of the new control measures, mostly for jaywalking.

The fine for crossing the street outside the pedestrian crossing is 20,000 won (368,572 VND) and for running a red light, the fine is up to 60,000 won (1.1 million).

And the trend of enjoying hot instant noodles on mountain tops is spreading beyond South Korea. According to Korean media, instant noodles are now being sold on the top of the Matterhorn, an Alpine mountain range in Switzerland.

VN (according to Tin Tuc newspaper)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/nuoc-dung-mi-an-lien-gay-ton-thuong-ngon-nui-noi-tieng-o-han-quoc-385985.html