2016 is the 50th anniversary of designation of Hallasan Mountain as a natural reserve. The provincial government will become the first regional government in the country to buy all of the privately-owned land in a national park in order to better administer it. Mike Laidman has more.

The appearance of Jeju’s Hallasan Mountain changes with the seasons throughout the year.

The mountain is a habitat for flora and fauna, and showcases a wonderfully-colourful landscape. It is also designated as a world natural heritage site by UNESCO.

INTERVIEW
Park Jeong-suk / Nowon-gu, Seoul
When we were coming down the mountain we saw some small, amazingly beautiful flowers and leaves. I don't think any artist can properly portray this wonderful landscape on a canvas. We truly appreciate the wonder of Hallasan Mountain.
<인터뷰 : 박정숙 / 서울특별시 노원구>
"진짜 작은 꽃 한송이, 잎 하나하나도 다 (아름답게) 만들어 놓은 것이 우리가 한라산 내려오면서 김홍도도 이러한 작품을 그릴 수 없다고 외치면서 내려왔어요. 너무 한라산에 고맙게 생각하고 있어요."
-----수퍼체인지-----
INTERVIEW
Jeon Yun-su, Shin Hae-jun / Anyang, Gyeonggi Province
It's my first time hiking such a high mountain. The snow was beautiful and we really had a great time on the mountain.
<인터뷰 : 전윤수 신해준 / 경기도 안양시 >
"한라산 같이 높은 산은 처음인데 등산해보니까 눈꽃도 되게 아름다웠고 즐겁고 이색적인 경험이었습니다."

It's been 50 years since the province designated the mountain as a natural reserve.

The Hallasan National Park Office is planning to spend 15 billion won to buy all of the private land on the mountain by 2023 for better management and to enhance the value of the natural reserve.

The plan is to purchase 105 plots that together cover 2.6 million square meters.

Officials came up with the idea to prevent environmental degradation on the mountain and to dissolve the frustration that landowners are experiencing when it comes to ownership limitations.

More than 1 billion won will be spent to restore the vegetation in higher areas that have been hurt due to climate change.

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\1b+ to be spent on vegetation restoration, pine wilt control

The island will place recycle bins at the entrances to hiking trails and launch a campaign to promote bringing garbage off the mountain.

[camera]
Park Byeong-joon, Moon Ho-seong

Another 2.7 billion won has been set aside to repair damaged hiking trails and install first-aid equipment along the trails to offer quicker response times in the case of emergencies.

This year, a total of 11.2 billion won has been set aside for the projects.

INTERVIEW
Kim Chang-jo / Representative, Hallasan National Park Office
We're coming up with plans to remove some of the broadleaf bamboo and restore the withering Korean fir. The mountain’s original ecosystem has collapsed due to climate change. We're also looking to change the current toilets to odorless ones.
<인터뷰 : 김창조 / 한라산국립공원관리사무소장>
"기후 변화 등 여러가지 요인으로 변해가는 생태계 보전을 위해 조릿대 퇴치방안 마련 및 구상나무 복원사업을 실시해 나가고 고지대 냄새나는
-----수퍼체인지-----
재래식 화장실을 수세식 화장실로 교체해 한라산 청정 이미지를 제고해 나갈 계획입니다."

[REPORTER]
Mike Laidman

Hallasan Mountain is preparing for a better future, and already looking ahead to the 100th anniversary of its designation as a natural reserve.

Now, everyone on Jeju Island needs to work together for a cleaner Hallasan Mountain.

Mike Laidman, KCTV