Police inspect Gwanak Mountain trail after viral 'three-wish challenge' draws crowds

Police have stepped in to prevent safety incidents on Gwanak Mountain after the number of hikers heading to its Yeonjudae summit jumped sharply.

The Gwanak Police Station said Friday it inspected sections of the Yeonjudae hiking trail identified as safety risks.

The surge follows a television appearance by a well-known fortune teller who described Yeonjudae as a place of powerful energy, saying that making the same wish three times there would make it come true. The segment sparked an online trend dubbed the "Gwanak Mountain three-wish challenge," sending hiker numbers soaring.

The crowds prompted three emergency calls to 112 requesting crowd control. On Oct. 9, the Gwanak Police Station and Gwanak-gu district office temporarily restricted access at three main entry points — Sadang Station, Gwanak Mountain Park and Seoul National University.

Gwanak Police Station Chief Yang Seung-ho visited the Yeonjudae area Friday to inspect sections at risk of bottlenecks should large crowds gather. Officials also discussed a joint response plan with the fire department, the district office and neighboring police stations to handle emergencies.

"Prevention is key when it comes to crowd crush incidents," Yang said. "We will identify hazards in advance and concentrate all available personnel from the outset to prevent accidents."