A hiker who illegally entered a restricted zone on Mount Sanbangsan, a national heritage site in Jeju, has been sentenced to a fine.

According to the legal community on Tuesday, the Jeju District Court (Judge Oh So-hyun, presiding over Criminal Single Division 1) recently sentenced an individual identified as A, who was put on trial for violating the Cultural Heritage Protection Act, to a fine of 5 million won.

A was put on trial on charges of entering a restricted public access area by hiking from Sanbangsan Mountain in Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, all the way to the peak without permission at 5:36 AM on June 11, 2023.

Sanbangsan Mountain is Designated National Heritage Scenic Site No. 77. To prevent damage, it has been designated as a restricted access area until December 31, 2031, allowing general visitors to view only designated areas from the ticket office up to Sanbanggulsa Temple halfway up the mountain, while entry to all other areas is prohibited.

Reviewing investigative records and evidence such as posts on hiking websites related to access to Sanbangsan Mountain, the court judged A's charges to be guilty.

A appealed against the first-instance ruling.

(Photo: Yonhap News)