Soju bottles, beer cans, cigarette butts, banana peels.

On the morning of August 11, at the entrance of Byeokun Valley, a "subway-accessible" summer retreat about a 17-minute walk from Suraksan Station on Subway Line 7.

Various types of garbage were scattered around in a disorderly manner, making visitors wince.

Much like an Instagram Reel stating, "Among all the valleys I've visited so far, Byeokun Valley had the most trash," the site was piled high with garbage bags and delivery boxes mixed together right from the entrance.

A strong stench drifted from around a dozen plastic bags and boxes, swarmed continuously by flies and midges.

Inside the bags, beer cans, makgeolli bottles, plastic containers stained with sauce, fruit packaging materials, and snack bags were haphazardly stuffed.

Shin, a 63-year-old employee at a nearby restaurant, said, "This isn't trash someone gathered to clean up, but what vacationers left behind over the weekend," adding, "People seem to keep dumping garbage in the empty space in front of the closed restaurant."

From the entrance of the valley all the way to the vicinity of "Seonnyetang" (fairy pond), which features deep pools, beer cans with remaining contents, liquor bottles, cigarette butts, lighters, banana peels, bottled water, and disposable utensils were strewn across rock crevices and inside the stream.

Local residents echoed that the garbage problem has grown significantly more serious due to a recent surge in visitors.

While vacationers have flocked to the valley after it went viral on social media as a summer retreat close to downtown Seoul, critics point out that the valley is being polluted by reckless littering.

Kwon, a 78-year-old resident, said, "It wasn't this bad last year, but vacationers suddenly increased starting this summer," adding, "Trash dumping is worst especially on weekends."

Lim, a 45-year-old restaurant owner, also complained, "People dumped piles of garbage in front of my shop, so I reported it to the district office a week ago for pickup."

According to the Nowon District Office, visitors to Byeokun Valley, who averaged 150 on weekdays and 300 on weekends last year, surged about fivefold this year to 1,500 on weekends alone.

Consequently, the volume of waste generated and related complaints are also exploding.

Groups of young visitors carrying watermelons and delivery food boxes up into the valley were frequently spotted.

Experts point out that as food and household waste discarded in the valley directly flows into the water and soil, on-site management by local governments and caution from vacationers are urgently needed.

Bae Je-keun, a chair professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, warned, "Garbage left unattended in valleys transforms into various forms such as microplastics during the decomposition process over time, polluting the environment," adding, "Animal and plant-based food waste, in particular, can affect water quality."

Professor Bae further suggested that local governments should clearly designate management zones for summer resorts and overhaul practical crackdown facilities.

He emphasized, "In locations where illegal dumping repeats despite the presence of recycling stations or banners, it is necessary to deploy personnel intensively to directly guide and instruct on proper waste separation at the scene."

In response, an official from the Nowon District Office stated, "During the peak summer season on weekends and holidays, we deploy four personnel daily to handle parking management and crack down on illegal dumping, while collecting trash every morning."

The official also explained, "A number of banners outlining 'precautions for using the valley' are currently installed at the Suraksan entrance and descent points," adding, "Going forward, we plan to additionally install these banners inside the water play areas and use them to guide visitors to nearby recycling stations."

The district office noted, "As complaints related to garbage have increased, we will continue these guidance measures through July and August, when summer valley users peak."

(Photo: Capture from Instagram Reel 'ssong.xi', Yonhap News)