"Nam Nan-hee, born in 1957 in Uljin-gun, Republic of Korea, is one of Asia’s most versatile alpinists and a dedicated advocate for the mountain world of Korea. After graduating from the Korean Alpine School in 1981, she achieved renown as an expedition alpinist, rock climber, and icefall climber with first ascents in Nepal and South Korea. Later on, Nam Nan-hee increasingly turned her attention to long-distance trekking, primarily in South Korea, Japan, China, and the USA.

Nam Nan-hee is passionate about the traversing of mountain ranges across national borders; she sees such regions as cultural spaces that foster connection. She is particularly focused on the Baekdudaegan, a mountain range that runs down the entire Korean peninsula. Nam Nan-hee’s as yet unattained dream is to create a Peace Trail leading from Baektusan in North Korea to Jirisan in southern South Korea.

Her commitment here is uniquely tenacious. Her vision combines alpinistic knowledge with cultural sensitivity and a will to shape her society. Nam Nan-hee has made a name for herself as an author, long-distance hiker, and mountain guide far beyond the borders of South Korea."

Albert Mountain Award 2022