Baby Hiking Club helps South Korean parents bond with their infants – and one another

SEOUL - With a crisp breeze heralding the arrival of autumn, nine tiny adventurers, most of them just one year old, set out on their very first hike of the season.

Dangling from inside hiking carriers with rattles, little toys and teething rings, the babies cooed and gurgled as they gazed wide-eyed at the sky, the canopy of trees and fluttering birds – all over their parents’ shoulders.

The parents echoed back and sang little songs, filling the tranquil trail on Buramsan in Namyangju, Gyeonggi province, with the sounds of babbling and laughter.

As the group made their way up, older hikers passing by broke into bright smiles, exclaiming, “How adorable!”

The parent-baby duos form the Baby Hiking Club, where families with young children come together to share special moments in nature and positive energy.

Launched just less than a year ago by Ms Oh Yen-joo, a mother raising a 19-month-old, the club has grown into a group of more than 1,100 parents and babies.

Just 52 days after giving birth, Ms Oh climbed her first mountain with her newborn, and that desire to share what she loves with her child became the seed of the club.

“Nature has always been a source of strength for me, and I wanted my baby to feel that too. I realised I didn’t need to give up what I love just because I had a child. I could share it instead,” she told The Korea Herald.

“When I met other parents with the same thoughts, I found opportunities opening up that I could never have imagined on my own.”

The club holds weekly gatherings, with hikes ranging from gentle loop trails and 200m hills near trailheads to more challenging routes, such as Seonjaryeong in Daegwallyeong, Gangwon province, which rises over 1,000m above sea level.

Members select and sign up for routes online, based on their baby’s age and their own hiking experience.

Among the club’s most popular outings is the “Aegibong” hike.

Literally translated as “baby peak”, gentle hills, rising just 100m to 300m above ground level, are commonly called “Aegibong”.

The highlight of these trips is capturing photos of the babies next to the stone markers inscribed with the word Aegibong — a “baby at baby peak” photo op.

At the Sept 9 Aegibong meet-up, babies born in September 2024 celebrated their first birthdays with rice puffs and milk from lunch boxes.

“Spending the whole day at home with a baby is mentally draining. I felt so refreshed today being out in nature with my child, and most of all, I loved seeing my child enjoy the outdoors, looking at the sky and reaching out to touch the trees,” said Ms Lee Seul-ki, a mum in her 30s who joined the Baby Hiking Club’s regular meet-up for the first time with her son U-ju, who would turn one in two days.

For some parents, what makes this hiking club so special is the opportunity to boost their child’s natural immunity through time spent in nature.

Ms Sun Eun-ji travelled from Daegu with her son Ji-woo at 5am by train to join the Buramsan gathering.

“Instead of taking him to kids cafes, I usually spend time with him in the mountains or other natural settings,” she said, adding that she believes this has helped Ji-woo stay healthy, avoiding common childhood illnesses like hand, foot and mouth disease so far.

“I loved hiking even before giving birth, and it feels good to share what I enjoy while seeing my baby receive positive influences from it,” she added.

For those less inclined to elevation, the club also offers gentler activities like stroller walks along the Han River, playing in the water of mountain streams and early morning outings to watch the sunrise, which is just for mothers without their children.

The club’s founder emphasised the educational benefits of outdoor activities shared between parents and children.

“For babies, sunlight, wind, birdsong and the smell of soil – things you can’t learn from books – are all sources of play and learning,” Ms Oh said.

“Every time I see my child grab a leaf or giggle as the wind brushes against her hair, I realise that this moment is the most valuable education for her.”

The club envisions itself not just as a hiking group, but also as a co-parenting community.

“What I’ve felt most strongly while raising a child is how lonely parenting can be. There were many moments when Korea’s low birth rate statistics felt painfully real to me,” Ms Oh said.

“I hope children will grow up with the sense that there are many adults watching over them, and that parents will gain the confidence that parenting is not something done alone, but together.

“Someday, I hope the Baby Hiking Club will stand as a symbol of sustainable co-parenting and a family friendly culture in our society.” THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK