Rubber mats in national parks to be gone by 2025

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Rubber mats in national parks to be gone by 2025

Published: 18 Jun. 2024, 11:11

LEE SOO-JUNG
lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr

Tire link mats are installed on a trekking path at Seoraksan National Park in Gangwon. [KOREA NATIONAL PARK SERVICE]

All tire link mats installed on trails at national parks will be completely removed by 2025, the Korea National Park Service said Tuesday, putting an end to years of visitor complaints.

The rubber mats, made of recycled tires, extend across 20.17 kilometers (12.53 miles) at 17 national parks with sloppy terrain and that get a significant amount of snowfall, such as Mount Jiri, Seorak and Deogyu.

Mats were installed in certain trail sections to prevent hikers from slipping.

But trekkers complained of the rubber's unpleasant smell during the summer, and visitors said the mats did not blend in with the natural scene of the mountain, harming the trails' appearance.

The park service stopped installing rubber mats in 2017.

The authority in March established a removal plan to enhance the eco-friendliness of national parks. Removal work will begin from Mount Jiri with the help of professional maintenance workers.

According to the Korea National Park Service, the rubber mats will be replaced with non-slip mats made of naturally sourced substances such as palm trees. All tire mats on 122 paths in 17 national parks will be gone by 2025, the park service said.

BY CHO MOON-GYU [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]