I Walk Alone Along the Hangang... Mobile Gift Cards for 300 People

Yongsan-gu, 'Challenge! Walking Alone on Hangang Course 7' Challenge

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] As the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) prolongs, more people are complaining of depression and anxiety. What is the solution? Consistent exercise is the answer. Aerobic exercises such as running and walking are known to reduce depression.

Yongsan-gu Public Health Center (Director Choi Jaewon) will hold the "Challenge! Walking Alone on the Han River 7 Course" for three weeks from November 2 to 21 to improve residents' walking participation rates.

The participants are Yongsan-gu residents, and the program will be conducted in a non-face-to-face format using the mobile walking app "WalkOn".

Residents who wish to participate should install WalkOn on their smartphones, sign up, select the "Challenge! Walking Alone on the Han River 7 Course" menu (opened on November 2), and walk at least 90% of the Han River 7 Course (Hannam Station - Jamsu Bridge - Sebitseom - Seorae Island - Dongjak Station).

The distance is 5.2 km, and the estimated time is about 1 hour and 30 minutes. However, to record the achievement rate, participants must turn on the smartphone’s GPS at the starting point (Exit 1 of Hannam Station) and change the app’s location recording setting to "Normal Mode".

A district official said, "Among those who succeed in the challenge, 300 people will be selected by lottery to receive a mobile convenience store gift certificate worth about 5,000 won," adding, "We hope many residents participate to take care of both their health and receive gift certificates."

The Han River 7 Course walking challenge conducted by the district is part of Seoul City's "Walking Alone" project. Seoul City has divided the Han River trail into 12 courses and is conducting walking challenges together with 10 autonomous districts under its jurisdiction.

Choi Jaewon, director of Yongsan-gu Public Health Center, said, "As of October, about 2,000 residents are exercising by walking using WalkOn," and added, "We hope that through this challenge, residents can feel the autumn atmosphere of Yongsan and recover their mind and body exhausted by COVID-19."

Besides the walking project, the district also operates a non-face-to-face metabolic syndrome center using the KakaoTalk channel. If questions about exercise, nutrition, etc. are asked through the related channel, experts consisting of nurses, nutritionists, and health exercise managers provide answers.