Talk:Korean Mountain Preservation League

Like all Wikipedia articles on organizations, this article needs to demonstrate notability, preferably through non-trivial coverage in multiple reliable sources. I haven't come up with much, except for this human-interest piece from the Seoul Sinmun. The Korean name of this organization gets a stunning 18 Google hits, which makes me seriously wonder about any claims to coverage beyond the aforementioned Seoul Sinmun piece about "blue-eyed nature wardens."

I'm tempted to propose deletion, but am afraid that I may be biased by the queasy feeling I get when I see my fellow expats strutting around as if they were going to save Korea from the Koreans. You know, the Corea Alpine Club has been working toward similar goals for some 60 years, yet isn't even mentioned on the KML website. That seems ... odd. Like they were starting a hiking club on Mars or something. -- Visviva 15:27, 17 December 2006 (UTC)


 * I second your queasiness, Visviva. Especially, when I read the bit at the end about trash-strewn mountains, it made me uncomfortable. Why do they not mention the Buddhist nun called Jiyul (sp.) who risked her life to save a mountain and all its creatures in the Gajisan Provincial Park? Speedy deletion. Mumun 21:23, 17 December 2006 (UTC)

Misrepresentation
I find both of the above arguments invalid. I do however think that the little bit of info that is given in the article does misrepresent the organization. I will take the liberty to delete the final line of the article, as I agree with Mumun; however, this was a problem of whomever posted the original article.

I have once volunteered for the Korean Mountaineering League and follow their work from time to time (when my own time allows it). During the volunteering, the group consisted of Koreans as well as foreigners. Simply because the founder is non-Korean is no reason to suggest irrelavancy - Visviva's comment about 'foreigners strutting around as if they were going to save Korea from the Koreans' is quite a bold, ignorant statement. There are other such groups in Korea (founded by foreingers, ie Birds Korea), do you feel they are all useless groups doing useless work? Is that your stance on environmentalism? The environment doesn't only concern a single country, we're all affected; basic wildlife biology has proven that. Were you aware that approximately 25% of Taiwan's pollution is the result of drifting pollution from Korea and China? Concerning that, Taiwan should have several environmental groups in Korea and China doing environmental work. You concern yourself too much with borders. During my volunteering, I was impressed at how Koreans reacted to the group: at the very least pleased, at the very most sincerely and utterly thankful, shaking our hands saying thank you repeatedly. If you watch the interview on Arirang TV that features the KML, you will see this first hand. Go to Arirang's website, find 'Heart to Heart' the half-hour talk show that featured the KML, and search for 'Shawn Morrissey'. It will direct you to a link that will provide the show (you may have to pay for viewing, but the link prior to viewing gives a synopsis of the KML and Mr Morrissey). I know the KML was also featured on a Korean-only interest piece on EBS, but I'm unsure how to find that as my Korean is well below par. If you live in Korea, as it appears you both do, contact the KML and volunteer.

Instead of being armchair scholars, why not actually get your hands dirty and go straight to the source? Furthermore, why would the KML be obligated to mention other organizations (which it does on its site)? Sure, the Apline Club is tried and true, but it is also 'unhip'. Have you been along with the Alpine Club on a trip? It's all middle-aged to elderly people. During my volunteering with the KML, there were two high school students along who were building reguired volunteer hours for school. The students could have done some other, easier volunteer work, but they were interested enough in the KML to spend a hard day hiking in the mountains, picking up litter and helping in assessing trails.

Is it being suggested that the KML doesn't support Venerable Jiyul simply because she isn't mentioned on their site? That's ridiculous.

I recommend a more indepth article to remove the misrepresentation of the current/previous one; no deletion. Twisted Pine, December 18, 2006.


 * I agree with Twisted Pine. Why would an organization that is working to help the environment incite discontent from Wikipedia? It seems kind of foolish. Anyhoo, I've added a link to an article from the Joong Ang Daily newspaper that I found.--The Rough God (talk) 17:05, 15 December 2007 (UTC)