[One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day One Thousand Characters] Hwabyeong (火病) Specialist Doctor: "Walking is a Thousand-Year-Old Cure"

Professor Kim Jong-woo, Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, Kangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital
Exercise for Both Physical and Mental Health
"Walking is Communication... You Should Have Your Own Course"

"If you find joy in walking, you can do anything together. You can listen to music, travel, read books, and even meditate. Walking is not only a physical exercise but also a mental exercise."

Kim Jong-woo, author of "Walking Trips After Forty" and a specialist in Hwabyeong (Korean anger syndrome) at the Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, Kangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital, spoke about the charm of walking. Traveling while walking is called a "walking trip," and meditating while walking is called "walking meditation." This is Kim's philosophy?that you can do anything along with walking. He emphasized, "Many writers, philosophers, and musicians enjoy walking. It means that through walking, you engage in both physical and mental exercise."

Having cared for Hwabyeong patients for a long time, Professor Kim calls walking a "thousand-year-old cure." Hwabyeong, commonly referred to as "ulhwabyeong," is a condition where negative emotions accumulate and repeatedly explode in the mind. It occurs in a situation where communication with the outside is cut off and one is trapped within oneself. Kim explained, "Walking is fundamentally a process of communicating with someone other than myself," adding, "Once you go outside, whether it’s with people or nature, you can be with other beings, and many problems are solved by meeting others." He further noted, "For patients with depression, just going outside is a success. Hwabyeong also greatly benefits from walking as it enables communication between other beings and oneself."

Professor Kim Jong-woo of the Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry at Kangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital is walking along a nearby hospital trail. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

Kim’s reason for becoming passionate about walking is unique. He was born with congenital heart disease and underwent two surgeries as a child, surviving miraculously. Because of this, walking and hiking, which others take for granted, were not easily accessible exercises for him. Kim recalled, "When a person cannot do something, it often connects with what they want to do. I couldn’t hike but really liked it, and walking was more comfortable than hiking, so I naturally became familiar with it."

Especially, the Himalayas trip he took after turning forty in 2010 gave new meaning to his life. The view from the strenuous climb to 3,000 meters answered what he wanted to do going forward. Walking and traveling took a deep place in his heart. For the ten years before the COVID-19 pandemic, he led global walking trips as a "walking trip doctor." Through walking trips that combined health, travel, and meditation, he explored world-renowned walking destinations such as the Camino de Santiago in Spain, the Amalfi Coast in Italy, Kyushu Olle in Japan, and the Great Ocean Walk in Melbourne, Australia. Kim emphasized, "One important meaning of walking is curiosity. The more curious you are to see a place yourself, the more enjoyable walking becomes."

Kim suggests walking that involves thinking and meditation rather than simple walking. It is also important to know when to stop at a good spot while walking. He said, "When people walk the same course on a walking trip and are asked what they saw and felt, everyone perceives it differently. After sharing stories, you can pay attention to things you hadn’t noticed before." From this perspective, Kim expressed some regret about major walking spots in Korea, such as the Olle Trails. Although the paths are well maintained, the stories connected to them are relatively lacking. For example, the Camino de Santiago has a history of 1,000 years, and wherever you go, the path carries its own story. This makes those walking the Camino "pilgrims," while those walking Jeju Olle Trails are seen as "tourists." Kim analyzed, "Jeju Olle Trails are among the best walking courses in the world, but the commercial connections are lacking. That’s the decisive difference from the Camino de Santiago."

Professor Kim Jong-woo of the Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry at Kangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital is sitting by a walking trail near the hospital where he often walks, talking about walking and mental health. Photo by Huh Young-han younghan@

Kim believes walking should be "easygoing." Only then can you walk anytime, anywhere. Habit formation begins with daily walking. He advises finding your own good walking course as a method. When you have external appointments, looking for a good walking course near the meeting place is also a good idea. For example, if you have an appointment in Ilsan, you can leave 1-2 hours early to walk around the lake park before going. Having a dedicated walking course is also good. Kim said, "When I make time to walk, I sometimes walk around Nami Island, or go to Busan’s Haeparang Trail or Jeonnam’s ‘Seomtiago,’ then have dinner and return. The point is to have a place where you can easily walk."

Once you find joy in walking, you can add anything on top. You can bring a book and enjoy reading during a break while walking, listen to music with earphones, or meditate to recharge your mind along with walking. The boundaries between walking and other activities disappear. Kim emphasized, "The reason the Jamsu Bridge is better for walking than Banpo Bridge is that it’s closer to the water, allowing you to feel unity with the object and the disappearance of boundaries. If walking becomes enjoyable and habitual, you can experience even greater charm."