[One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day One Thousand Characters] An Unexpected Gift, Han Who Made Walking a Daily Habit

'Walking Over 50,000 Steps in 10 Days' Event
98% of Participating Employees Achieved the Goal

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] "I walked a total of 473,616 steps over two weeks, averaging 33,830 steps per day. That means I walked for about five hours each day."

Kang Gwang-won, the head of the Procurement Management Team at the Bank of Korea, who set an outstanding record far exceeding the target in the Bank of Korea's non-face-to-face "10-day 50,000 steps or more walking event" held to promote employee health after COVID-19, smiled sheepishly in an interview with Asia Economy.

In October 2020, when face-to-face sports events were prohibited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bank of Korea launched the "10-day 50,000 steps or more walking event" in a non-face-to-face format to promote labor-management harmony and employee health. So far, five events have been held, with the most recent one in November seeing 2,264 participants out of 2,450 employees, and 2,225 of them achieving the 50,000-step goal, resulting in a high achievement rate of 98.3%.

Known by the nickname "Kang-gadin" in this event, Kang is a self-proclaimed "walking enthusiast." He said, "In life, there are surprisingly few moments to be alone or to think. When walking, I think about the people around me and can closely observe the street scenes I usually pass by without noticing. Walking is an unexpected gift from COVID-19," he reflected.

Kang Kwang-won, Head of the Bank of Korea Team

In fact, Kang's favorite exercise in the past was marathon running. With nine years of marathon experience and a solid stamina and endurance that allowed him to complete the Seoul International Marathon full course in just over 3 hours and 3 minutes, he switched to walking seriously after suffering a severe knee injury during a marathon. "After the injury, intense exercise became burdensome," Kang said. Since then, he has walked whenever he had time. As walking became a daily habit, he enjoyed moments of solitary reflection and felt his physical condition improve through sweating, making it impossible to stop walking.

Interestingly, his preferred walking course is surprisingly the "city center." One of the main reasons he enjoyed marathons was the opportunity to run through the heart of the city, and he also prefers urban and roadside routes when walking. Unlike quiet places, the city offers a unique vibrancy and allows him to see familiar spaces in a new light. Kang said, "All organs are connected to the soles of the feet, so walking or running refreshes you," adding, "Unlike other exercises, walking requires no cost or time concerns, so I plan to continue walking."

Employee response to the Bank of Korea's walking event has been explosive. The recent event saw active participation from Governor Lee Chang-yong, Monetary Policy Committee member Shin Sung-hwan, and support staff alike, regardless of rank. Participation is simple: employees install the "WalkOn" app on their phones to measure steps, and those who walk more than 50,000 steps over 10 days receive a mobile cultural gift certificate. Additionally, the Bank of Korea donates 10,000 KRW per person, which employees can contribute to a charity of their choice. This allows them to take care of their health and donate simultaneously, a win-win situation.

Lee Jae-hwa, head of the Payroll and Welfare Team at the Bank of Korea, said, "In November last year, 2,225 employees achieved the goal, and we donated a total of 22.25 million KRW to organizations such as the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation, Unicef, and Community Chest of Korea," adding, "We have held this event twice a year with the idea that healthy employees make a healthy company, and due to the enthusiastic response, we plan to continue it this year."

Thanks to the walking event, a new culture has emerged within the Bank of Korea. After finishing lunch early, more employees are taking walks with colleagues around nearby Deoksugung Palace, Jeongdong-gil, and Namsan Trail under the pretext of "achieving the goal." Employees also share "tips" for enjoying walks. For example, at Deoksugung near the Bank of Korea, a lunch-time admission ticket costs 3,000 KRW (10 visits over 3 months). Employees buy two tickets and enjoy a walk with a colleague after lunch, appreciating the four seasons of Deoksugung. One researcher said, "The Governor has emphasized the importance of family and health to employees since suffering severely from COVID-19," and added, "Currently, the Bank of Korea is conducting a 'work diet' to reduce unnecessary tasks, and not only work but also walking helps with physical dieting, so employees are very satisfied."

Lee Chang-yong, Governor of the Bank of Korea (right), is seen having a conversation with Bank of Korea staff.