[One Day 10,000 Steps One Day 1,000 Characters] "The Miracle of Barefoot Walking at Life's Crossroads... I Can't Keep It to Myself"

Park Dongchang Barefoot Walking Citizens Movement Headquarters Chairman
Regaining Health by Walking Barefoot, Practicing Three Times a Day
Advocating the Power of Barefoot Walking Since 2016

[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] There is a man who walks barefoot as often as he eats three meals a day. In the morning, he strolls barefoot for over an hour in front of his apartment yard; during the day, he walks barefoot for 30 minutes in the forest; and in the evening, he spends an hour walking barefoot along a barefoot walking path built on a river embankment. Residents who once found this sight unfamiliar have joined him in barefoot walking. This is the story of Park Dong-chang, chairman of the Barefoot Walking Citizens Movement Headquarters (age 70), who regained his health by practicing barefoot walking 22 years ago.

Park, who graduated from Seoul National University Law School and spent half his life as a finance professional, said he hoped people would experience the "miracle of barefoot walking." After retiring, he established the "Barefoot Walking Forest Healing School" in 2016 and meets citizens barefoot every Saturday from March to November at Daemosan in Seoul. In 2018, he officially organized the movement headquarters to promote barefoot walking nationwide. He has also consistently published books promoting barefoot walking, including "The Joy of Walking Barefoot" (2006), "The Miracle of Barefoot Walking" (2019), and "Walk Barefoot" (2021).

I Experienced the Miracle Too... Why I Fell for 'Barefoot Walking'

Park Dong-chang, Chairman of the Barefoot Walking Citizens' Movement Headquarters

Park’s fascination with barefoot walking dates back to 2001. At that time, he was the bank manager at LG Petro Bank in Poland. His liver enzyme levels had risen far beyond the normal range due to overwork, and he suffered from daily insomnia. He was living through days like a bolt from the blue after a doctor warned him, "If you continue like this, you might die soon." It was by chance that he watched a TV program broadcast in Korea that changed his life.

"Lee Joo-seon, who was diagnosed with cancer that had spread to his lungs and lymph nodes and was given a one-month terminal prognosis and forced discharge, decided to take off his shoes and freely walk, play, and rest in Cheonggyesan. Miraculously, he survived beyond the terminal prognosis without dying. When he was examined at the hospital, the cancer cells had completely disappeared. I thought the secret must have been barefoot walking."

Park immediately went to the Kabaty Forest behind his house in Warsaw, which spans about 900 hectares, and walked barefoot. He recalled, "For the first time in my 50 years, I felt the life force energy of the forest path filling my entire body through my bare feet. That day, I somehow fell into a warm sleep, and a few days later, my bowel movements increased from once a day to two or three times. The chronic cold I had also gradually went away." After practicing barefoot walking for several months, his liver enzyme levels returned to normal. "I shouldn’t keep this good thing to myself, right?"

More People Seeing Benefits Consistently

Park advised that walking barefoot is much more effective than walking with shoes. Walking barefoot maximizes acupressure and grounding effects. He explained, "The muscles surrounding the musculoskeletal system become stiff due to shoes, causing pain, but barefoot walking relieves this through cycles of compression and relaxation, which is the acupressure effect." He also said, "The grounding effect occurs when negatively charged electrons from the earth enter the body through the bare feet, neutralizing reactive oxygen species that cause chronic diseases." He added, "You can maximize the effects of barefoot walking by walking on your tiptoes, walking with your toes raised as if saluting, or walking by spreading and pulling your toes."

The paths include dirt trails, loess trails, and artificial acupressure paths. Park said natural dirt trails are the best because they contain stones, tree roots, and branches, making them perfect for natural acupressure. However, for grounding effects alone, moist and elastic loess trails are better. Although acupressure paths are effective, they can be painful, making it difficult for people to walk easily on them.

How long should one walk barefoot each day? "I recommend 30 minutes at a time, three times a day, but the more, the better. The human body was originally made to live without shoes."

Editor's NoteAsia Economy is conducting the "2023 National Brain Health Project" by promoting the "10,000 Steps and 1,000 Characters a Day" campaign. This campaign encourages walking 10,000 steps and writing 1,000 characters daily to maintain a healthy 100-year lifespan and a sharp brain. To support this, the "10,000 Steps and 1,000 Characters a Day Newsletter" provides subscribers with recommended walking courses and writing content. The campaign is the most cost-effective and wise exercise to protect yourself and your family.