Gyeonggi-do Launches Environmental Cleanup Project for 'Gyeonggi Old Trails' Including Samnamgil

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province will deploy 'Gyeonggi Old Road Caretakers' starting next month to carry out environmental cleanup and surrounding maintenance on four trails, including Samnam-gil.

Gyeonggi Old Road is a historical and cultural exploration trail created by Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation based on the Yukdaero (Six Great Roads) recorded in the road register by Joseon Dynasty scholar Shin Gyeong-jun, through historical verification and modern reinterpretation.

Currently, four trails including Samnam-gil are in operation, while Gyeongheung-gil and Ganghwa-gil are under development.

'Gyeonggi Old Road Caretakers' is a job project that places eight personnel hired by the Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation’s Gyeonggi Old Road Center, assigning two people to each of the four Gyeonggi Old Roads.

From July to December, they will pick up trash along the trails, remove weeds along riverbanks, and prune trees around ridge trails.

Additionally, they will walk the entire old road to identify damaged facilities and inspect installations from the perspective of walking travelers. They will also monitor guide facilities by replacing ribbons or stickers and carry out satisfaction improvement tasks from the visitors’ standpoint.

Kim Jong-seok, Director of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, emphasized, "Through the activities of the Gyeonggi Old Road Caretakers, we will create a safe and pleasant historical and cultural exploration trail and provide visitors with beautiful scenery and resting places. We will continue to strive for systematic infrastructure maintenance and environmental improvement of the Gyeonggi Old Road."

Gyeonggi Old Road began with Samnam-gil (Gwacheon to Pyeongtaek) in 2013, followed by Uiju-gil (Goyang to Paju), Yeongnam-gil (Seongnam to Icheon), and Pyeonghae-gil (Guri to Yangpyeong). The province plans to sequentially open Gyeongheung-gil (Uijeongbu to Pocheon) by the end of this year and Ganghwa-gil (Gimpo) by mid-next year.