Tena Koutou Katoa.
Roger Shepherd is from Aotearoa-New Zealand. Ko Tainui te Waka, Ko Tararua te maunga, Ko Waitohu te Awa, Ko Ngati Raukawa te Iwi, Ko Ngati Kapumanawawhiti te Hapu.
He is the first foreigner to have through-hiked (2006, 2007) the Baekdu-daegan in South Korea. Subsequently, in 2010, he was the first person to publish the first English guidebook on how to hike the Baekdu-daegan in South Korea. A 2nd edition was printed in 2017.
After settling in South Korea with his company HIKEKOREA, he then became the first person ever to explore and document the Baekdu-daegan mountain spine in North Korea. He achieved this over four long expeditions and made several other visits to North Korea over the years. His work there revealed to him the commonality of the Korean people despite their political diversities. And so he set forth promoting that observation through photo exhibitions of the mountains of the Baekdu-daegan, which stretch for over 1700kms from Halla-san in the South to Paektu-san in the North. His photo exhibitions were displayed in South Korea, North Korea, Japan and New Zealand. He also published three editions of a photo-art book on this subject. All were popular and are currently out of print. His work on the mountains of the Baekdu-daegan from North and South Korea symbolizes Korea as one Mountain and one People. The exhibition collections can be viewed here.
HIKEKOREA started in 2010. It is a registered individual company located in the southwest province of Jeollanam-do, near Jiri-san in South Korea. Roger personally guides his foreign guests in Korea to its many peaks and valleys on hikes that not only reveal Korea's stunning natural beauty but also her ancient and diverse cultures and history. Hike Korea also provides overnight backpacking courses for international schools in Korea, that participate in the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Programs.
In October 2024, Hike Korea published its sixth major publication on Korea. With the Korea Mountaineering Support Center it printed a 132p Englisgh Guidebook on the 300km Jirisan Dulle-gil. A National Trail of Korea.
BACKGROUND: I dropped out of high school before starting an apprenticeship as a car painter. Completing that, I left New Zealand for work in England. A travel stint through Europe inspired me to see more, and after returning to London, I ended up in Southern Africa, where for the next two years I hitchhiked through Southern and Eastern Africa. Sensing there was more to do in Africa, I stayed on and began a career in the wildlife industry. I learnt skills for working in the wildlife industries of South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia. I performed the duties of a game farm manager, a walking safari & fishing guide, and was active as a wildlife ranger in Zambia's National Parks & Wildlife Services. I stayed in Africa for nine years.
I returned to New Zealand contemplating a career in tourism but ended up taking employment as an English language instructor in South Korea. There I saw for the first time Korea's plentiful peaks and trails. But teaching wasn't my gig, and I returned to New Zealand and joined the New Zealand Police where my life skills were better utilized. I stayed in the Police for eight years, performing frontline Policing before passing selection to be a Diplomatic Protection Officer. There I worked in security details for New Zealand's Prime Ministers and its visiting world leaders. During my time in the NZ Police, I attained a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies through Victoria University's School of Government.
In 2006, whilst on holiday leave from the Police, I made a return to Korea to hike its numerous peaks and ridges. There I discovered the 735km Baekdu-daegan mountain spine and through-hiked it. I wrote an English guidebook about the Baekdu-daegan that was published in 2010, and again 2017. Before the guidebook was published, I returned to South Korea for more long distant hikes. On one of those hikes I decided to quit the police and began a new challenge as a foreign mountain guide, photographer, and writer in South Korea. I have been based here for the last fourteen years, including three in the stagnant covid-19 period.
During covid-19, I worked on preparing HIKEKOREA for the post-virus period. I also took the opportunity to extend into painting. Accoutered with a lifetime of visual and personal experiences, I paint oil on canvas. Some of my pieces are procured by followers. The collection can be viewed here. Five of my pieces were selected for an exhibition at the 172G gallery in Seoul this November 2024.
HIKEKOREA will continue to showcase South Korea as the best hiking destination in Northeast Asia.
Kia ora.
Roger Shepherd 로저셰퍼드
+82 10 2966-7612
Major Photo Exhibitions: Korea Tourism in Seoul 2010, Korea Forest Service in Seoul 2011, 2012, National Assembly of Korea 2013, Pataka Gallery in New Zealand 2012, Otani University in Japan 2015, Pyongyang 2013, 2015, 2017, Gimpo City Art Hall 2016, 2017, 2019, Cheonan City Hall 2015, Seoul Museum of Art 2017, Kim Dae Jung Culture Hall in Mokpo 2016, Korea New Zealand Foundation in Auckland 2019, Modern History Memorial Hall in Seoul 2019/20, Chungnam Office of Education 05/2020, Busan Office of Education 06/2020, Gyeongnam Office of Education, 08/2020, Suncheon Wetlands Park 10/2020, Unification Tower Goseong-gun 10/2020, LG Corporation Jinju 12/2020, Hanji Theme Park in Wonju 12/2020, Eunpyeong-gu office 06/2021, Namyangju office 09/2021, Seongnam city office 10/2021, Jeonju Gyodong Gallery 10/2021, Anseong city hall 11/2021, Gongju Culture Hall 12/2021, Gunpo Art & Culture Hall 02/2022, Mount Paektu Festival 02/2022, Ilsan Culture Park 07/2022, Jeonju Office of Education 06/2023, Gurye Baekdu-daegan Education Center 12/2023, Korea National Parks Service Gyeongsangnam-do Office 07/2024, 172G Gallery Art Exhibition Seoul 11/2024.