In the poll for the July-September period, some 40 percent of the respondents said they would go fishing, up 8 percentage points from the same period a year earlier, while only 31 percent said they would go climbing, down 12 percentage points from the previous year.

In the previous survey for the April-June period, fishing had garnered 40 percent of support, while hiking received 34 percent.

Hiking has been Koreans’ favorite outdoor activity since August 2015, until it was overtaken by fishing in the second quarter.

“The popularity of climbing might have diminished due to this year’s long monsoon period and heatwave which was more severe than last year. Such a trend would possibly bring changes to the patterns of trips in the country,” Consumer Insight said. 

(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)