• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.350-357
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• 2022

A national park is a place to conserve natural resources and visitors to experience nature, and thus, it is necessary to identify the noise distribution characteristic in the national park and preserve and restore the soundscape. However, most national parks in Korea are exposed to noise, leading to negative perceptions of the national park's soundscape and affecting the ecosystem. Many national parks in other countries have investigated the ecosystem impacts caused by noise and have performed various management to reduce the noise. However, in Korea, there is still a lack of awareness of the effect on the ecosystem, overlooking the need for soundscape management. Therefore, in this study, we developed a noise map of Mudeungsan National Park to investigate the quantitative impact of noise on visitors and the ecosystem. Also, we measured the trail's soundscape to describe a sound grade classification, and the soundscape of main spots in the park was recorded for a year and then analyzed. Finally, the sound resource distribution map was described, which can be used as preliminary data to determine the national park's sound distribution characteristics and manage the soundscape.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.235-246
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• 2011

This study explored the relationship between connectedness to nature (CN) and belief on consequences (social, economic, and ecological) of establishing cable car and supportiveness to its establishment in a natural park. It also examined the relationship between socio-demographic and visiting characteristics and CN. Data were collected from 134 visitors in Mudeungsan Provincial Park (MPP) in September, 2010 through field questionnaire survey. CN was measured by using a connectedness to nature scale (CNS) revised from the Mayer and Frantz's (2004) original CNS. CN consisted of two factors: interdependence and independence. CN increased as respondents' age, education level, number of visits to MPP and number of visits to Jungbong area of MPP increase. Respondents with higher CN ratings showed stronger beliefs on negative consequences of the cable car establishment. CN, however, was not related with beliefs on positive consequences of establishing cable cars. Respondents with higher CN showed lower support about establishing cable cars.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.266-274
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to analyze the number of visitors to the top of Seoseokdae in Mudeungsan National Park, in which visitors are concentrated, and their visiting patterns, thereby suggesting measures to manage the visitors. The number of annual visitors and the numbers of regional and seasonal visitors to Mudeungsan National Park, which affect the concentration of visits to Seoseokdae were analyzed using the data produced by an automatic digitizing device. A field study was conducted to examine the number of seasonal and periodic visitors to Seoseokdae and their visiting patterns. In 2015, the number of visitors was 2,563,651 and 83.9% of the visitors visited via the Jeungsimsa and Wonhyosa area that is near Gwangju City. This area is close to the Seoseokdae area and it is easy to hike between the areas. Therefore, there was an influx of most visitors to Seoseokdae into the Jeungsimsa and Wonhyosa area. In terms of seasonal visitors, the largest number of visitors came in the fall, followed by the summer, spring, and winter in order. However, the seasonal differences were not notable. There was no statistically significant correlation between the number of visitors and meteorological factors. This result may have been because Gwangju citizens frequently visit Mudeungsan regardless of period and weather. Visitors can get to Seoseokdae via the trails into Wonhyosa and Jangbuljae. A slightly larger number of visitors used the trail into Jangbuljae in the fall and winter, whereas a larger number of visitors used the trail into Wonhyosa in the summer. In general, there is a large influx of visitors into Jangbuljae, a strategic visiting point. However, a slightly larger number of visitors may have chosen the trail into Wonhyosa in the summer because they could hike under the shade of trees. In the summer, visitors stayed in Seoseokdae for a short time with a low level of crowdedness. On the other hand, in the fall and winter, visitors stayed in the area longer because they had lunch and rested. During the time, the number of momentary maximum visitors peaked, causing extreme crowdedness. Therefore, some visitors showed the visiting pattern of entering the grassland outside the designate zone. Because this behavior can damage the grassland on the top of Seoseokdae, which can lead to soil erosion, intensive visitor management may be necessary.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.3 s.45
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• pp.155-164
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• 2005

Volcanic rocks from the Mt. Mudeung area which are composed of Hwasun andesite, Mudeungsan dacite and Togok rhyolite contain plagioclase phenocrysts in common. Majority of the repeated twins observed in optical microscopy are albite twin and some are pericline twin. EPMA studies of plagioclases from Hwansun andesite, Mudeungsan dacite and Togok rhyolte indicate calcic andesine, andesine-oligoclase, nearly pure albite, respectively Albite twin and pericline twin can be easily distinguished through TEM diffraction patterns, which is quite difficult by optical microscopy. Plagioclases in volcanic rocks from the Mt. Mudeung area do not show e-reflection in (100) electron diffraction patterns, probably because of their high cooling rate, which inhibited phase separations during cooling.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.154-164
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• 2018

We investigated the ichthyofauna and fish community structure of the Mudeungsan National Park, Korea from 2014 to 2016 to prepare a conservation plan. We collected 21 species of 6 families collected from 8 survey stations through skimming nets and cast nets during the period. The dominant and subdominant species were Zacco temminckii (43.0%) and Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (15.1%), respectively. The other abundant species were Z. platypus (11.2%), Pungtungia herzi (10.1%), Squalidus gracilis majimae (8.9%), and Z. koreanus (4.5%). Among the fish collection, 13 species (61.9%) were Korean endemic species, but, endangered species and exotic species were not found. Similarity indices based on species composition and abundance showed the clear division of the fish community into two river systems (Yongsan River drainage system (St. 1-7) and Seomjin River drainage system (St. 8)). The Youngsan River system was further divided into the uppermost (St. 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7) and the upper-middle (St. 3 and 5) regions. The number of species appearing in a year was similar at 19 to 20 throughout the survey period. However, the individual number of fish in 2015 (2,670) was 20% less than that of 2014 (3,366) and 2016 (3,429), respectively. The probable reason for this decline is the rapid decline of stream level in 2015 compared to the other years. During the survey period, river works were undergoing at 3 out of 8 stations, having created disturbance in fish habitat and especially impacted on benthic fishes.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1057-1066
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• 2016

This study examined how 'forest name' or 'information of forest healing effectiveness' influence their perceived environmental restorativeness (PER) and perceived healing effectiveness (PHE). Study area was the 'Forest Healing Road (FHR)' in Mudeungsan National Park. Data were collected from 247 visitors selected by convenient sampling method using questionnaire survey during May-June, 2015. Respondents who read interpretive signs (forest name and information on forest healing effectiveness of FHR were written) installed along the FHR were regarded as placebo group and respondents who didn't read them as control group. The results showed that there were no overall differences on PER and PHE between control and placebo groups. Placebo group, however, rated more positive on 'being away' factor of PER than control group. All four factors (i.e., being away, coherence, fascination, comparability) of PER statistically influenced PHE (p<0.001), and these factors explained 51.1% of PHE. The 'coherence' was the most influential to PHE, followed by 'being away', 'comparability', and 'fascination' in order. Placebo effects on PER were shown in male, in lower age group(age${\leq}54$), or respondents with lower visiting experience to FHR(${\leq}20$ times/year). Placebo effects on PHE were found in male, in small group (${\leq}2$ persons), in respondents who visited 'alone' or 'with relatives/family', or in respondents with lower visiting experience to FHR(${\leq}20$ times/year). Some research and managerial implications were suggested.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.181-192
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• 2021

This study surveyed visitors' perceptions of Mudeungsan National Park's Seoseokdae Trail Section (STS) on the visitor reservation system (VRS). Data were collected from 248 visitors to STS selected through convenient sampling in May 2019. The majority (86.9%) of the respondents rated their overall experience in STS as either "no problem at all" or "little problem". Moreover, 43.0% of the respondents were aware of the VRS. The most popular information source for VRS was the Internet (49.7%), followed by other people (18.4%) and broadcasting media, e.g., TV (17.7%). While 69.9% of the respondents thought that implementation of VRS would be effective in improving managerial conditions of the STS, respondents perceived that "cumbersome reservation procedures" (79.3%) of the VRS operation was the most important problem, followed by "unfairness associated with Internet familiarity gap" (78.7%) and "deprivation of the opportunities to visit freely" (76.3%). The support for VRS implementation was higher among higher-aged, married, higher-educated, more frequent STS visitors, Gwangju residents, and solo visitors than the other groups. The "knowledge level about VRS" and "the awareness level about potential problems associated with VRS operation" negatively influenced the support for the implementation of VRS, while "the perceived managerial effectiveness of VRS" positively influenced it.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.621-630
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• 2021

This study evaluated cracks and climate monitoring in Ipseok-dae columnar joints and Jigong Neodeol rock blocks in Mudeungsan National Park. The rocks' state of cracking and their surface temperatures were measured alongside air temperature, relative humidity, and wind velocity. The maximum crack behavior in Ipseok-dae was 0.367 mm at one point, and showed a slight tendency at other points. One in Jigong Neodeol was within 0.15 mm and showed a stable state with little change. The surface temperature of the Ipseok-dae columnar joints was higher on the side exposed to sunlight than on the shaded side. All blocks of Jigong Neodeol rock showed similar temperatures. The air temperature showed a similar distribution for both rock types. The air temperature showed a similar distribution for both Ipseok-dae and Jigong Neodeol. The relative humidity was mostly between 20% and 60% in Ipseok-dae and was between 20 and 70% in Jigong Neodeol. Both areas had low wind speeds, with maxima of 5 m/s in Ipseok-dae and 3 m/s in Jigong Neodeol. As a result, it is evaluated that crack behavior in Ipseok-dae columnar joints and Jigong Neodeol rock blocks have maintained a very stable state so far. The surface temperature, temperature, relative humidity, and wind velocity of the two areas showed small difference depending on the season, indicating that they were affected to some extent by the season. From a long-term perspective, this can continuously affect the deformation of the Ipseok-dae columnar joints or Jigong Neodeol rock blocks. Therefore, in order to accurately evaluate their stability, it is considered that the current microscopic delamination and exfoliation or the propagation and expansion of cracks should be continuously measured.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.799-813
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• 2011

Increasing mountain biking (MTB) in forest recreation areas is changing the behavioral patterns in the areas where hiking has been a dominant activity, and it may cause ecological and social impacts to the areas. This study examined hikers' perceived conflicts by MTB including the relationship between socio-demographic and visiting characteristics and perceived conflict. On-site survey was conducted in Mudeungsan Provincial Park (MPP), Korea, during September, 2010. Out of 388 hikers participated in the survey, 374 responses were used for data analysis. 30.2% of the respondents encountered or saw MTB (avg.: 1.7 times) in MPP. Overall, 77.1% of respondents thought MTB in MPP was a problem. 73.5%~83.2% of respondents perceived conflict by four major MTB behaviors (e.g., too fast running MTB in trails; MTB bikes occupying trails; MTB bikes passing by hikers too closely; MTB bikers doing unpleasant behaviors to hikers). Based on the type of conflict, 48.5~62.4% of respondents fell in the type of "social values conflict (SVC)", 11.1~32.4%, "interpersonal conflict (IC)", and 16.8~26.6%, "no conflict (NC)", respectively. Types of conflicts were related with sociodemographic (e.g., gender, age, education) and visiting characteristics (e.g., number of visits, experience of encountering MTB). Such relationships were nonexistent in most cases when the "experience of encountering MTB" was controlled.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.421-431
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• 2011

This study examined visitors' perceptions and attitudes about establishing cable car in Mudeungsan Provincial Park (MPP). Data were collected from 401 respondents by a field questionnaire survey in MPP during the September of 2010. 61.7% of respondents opposed to establishing cable car in MPP while 20.6 percent supported it. Respondents showed high level of belief to possible consequences that establishing cable car will result in 'deterioration of ecosystem and natural landscape', 'crowding problem by increased number of visitors', 'disappearance of naturalness or previous nature experiences in MPP'. Respondents, however, presented low belief to 'positive effects on increasing economic income and local economic growth by attracting tourists'. 32.4 percent of the survey respondents evaluated the present MPP as a place of 'Nature Preservation Area (NPA)' and 10.5% as 'Developed Park Area (DPA)'. 48.8% of respondents answered that MPP should be managed as 'NPA' with only 2.5% as DPA. Respondents' socio-demographic characteristics (i.e., gender, age, education level, length of residence in Gwang-ju city), use patterns (number of visits to MPP or to Jungbong and surrounding areas), and normative place condition of MPP showed relationship with the overall support rates about establishing cable car. The results and their implications were discussed.