설악산, 방역 수칙 준수 속 단풍객 맞이해<br /><br />If the year's first yellowing leaves and sudden chilly days have you craving a long hike at South Korea's beautiful hiking trails and mountains, you're not alone.<br />Fortunately, you can still enjoy your autumn frolicking only if you stick to these quarantine measures.<br />Han Seong-woo reports from Seoraksan mountain.<br />Nothing captures the essence of October like the leaves changing color.<br />During this time of the year, millions of hikers visit national parks across South Korea.<br />"Here on Seoraksan Mountain, which showed the first signs of autumn in late September, over 80 percent of trees are expected to turn yellow and orange this coming weekend."<br />But due to COVID-19, the government is advising people not to visit parks to see the autumn leaves. Instead, it is promoting the national park service's Youtube channel where viewers can tour parks virtually.<br />"But for those going anyway, it's recommended to wear masks and keep a two meter distance between each other while trekking."<br />And from this Saturday until mid-November, group tour buses won't be able to park at some public parking lots directly run by the Korea National Park Service.<br />Some of Seoraksan's most popular attractions are also out of bounds.<br />"Along with the Towangseong Falls Observatory, Ulsanbawi, one of Seoraksan Mountain's primary attractions, will be closed to visitors indefinitely until the health crisis comes to an end."<br />The national park said that the gigantic, six-peak rock formation doesn't have enough space on its summit for hikers to keep their distance from each other.<br />"You can see the East Coast from Ulsanbawi and the view's breathtaking. So it's a shame we couldn't go this time."<br />Restrictions apply to the Seorak Cable Car as well.<br />The vehicle is currently operating at only 50 percent capacity and passengers must wear masks while keeping a safe distance from others.<br />Han Seong-woo, Arirang News, Seoraksan Mountain.<br />A spectacle nonetheless.<br />And for those of you planning to rent a tour bus as a group to head out to the mountains to enjoy the autumn foliage, remember: a part of the special quarantine measures for this season announced by the authorities include a must for the bus operator to take entry logs of all passengers on board and no singing or dancing on the bus.<br />If such violation is discovered, the bus operator will face business suspension.<br />
