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. 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 photo-art books on this subject, of which 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 2024, Hike Korea will be publishing an English Guidebook on South Korea's 300km Jirisan Dulle-gil trail for the 2024 Asia Trail Conference. 

Watch as Korea's many sharp peaks and her limitless network of trails become more widely known in a post-corona digital-global community.

BACKGROUND: Roger dropped out of high school before starting an apprenticeship as a car painter. Completing that, he left his native New Zealand for work in England. A travel stint through Europe inspired him to see more, and after returning to London, he ended up in Southern Africa, where for the next two years he hitchhiked through Southern and Eastern Africa. Sensing there was more to do in Africa, he stayed on and began a career in the wildlife industry. He learnt bush-craft skills for working in the wildlife industries of South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia. He performed the duties of a game farm manager, a walking safari & fishing guide, and performed an active role as a wildlife ranger in Zambia's Wildlife Services and National Parks security services. He stayed in Africa for nine years.

Reaching another stage in his life, he returned to New Zealand contemplating a career in tourism but ended up taking employment as an English language instructor in South Korea. There he saw for the first time Korea's plentiful peaks and trails. But teaching wasn't his gig, and he returned to New Zealand and joined the New Zealand Police where his prior life skills were better utilized. He stayed in the Police for eight years, performing the role of frontline Policing before passing selection to be a Diplomatic Protection Officer; where he worked in security details for the nation's Prime Ministers and its visiting world leaders. During his time in the NZ Police, he attained a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies through Victoria University's School of Government. Whilst on leave from the Police, he made a return to Korea to hike its numerous peaks and ridges. There he discovered the 735km Baekdu-daegan mountain spine and through-hiked it, writing an English guidebook (p.2010, 2017). During his time in the Police, he returned to South Korea for more long distant hikes, where on one particular long distance hike, he decided to quit his rewarding role in the police and instead began a new challenge as a foreign mountain guide, photographer, and writer in South Korea. He has been based here for the last thirteen years, including three in the stagnant covid-19 period. 

During covid-19, Roger worked on preparing HIKEKOREA for the post-virus period. He also took the opportunity to undergo painting, a promise he had made to his high school Art teacher. Accoutered with a lifetime of visual and personal experiences, he paints oil on canvas. Some of his pieces are procured by followers. They can be viewed here. 

Post-corona 2023, has seen a solid demand for his guide work with HIKEKOREA . His present plan is to develop HIKEKOREA into a successful brand and a smarter individual company. HIKEKOREA will continue to showcase South Korea as the best hiking destination in Northeast Asia. 

Kia ora.