[One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day Thousand Characters] Walking While Looking at the Moon... The Joy of Walking at Night

There is no rule that you must be home in the evening once the sun sets below the horizon and night falls. Taking a walk in the dark, illuminated only by streetlights and moonlight, offers a completely different scenery, perspective, and experience compared to daytime. Above all, it is exceptionally beautiful. Looking up at the stars, watching a meteor shower, or finding your way under a full moon becomes a transformative experience. Night walking is actually a challenge. Walking after dark can feel more frightening and challenging than walking during the day. If it’s your first time walking at night, it’s best to start with a familiar route. This could be around your neighborhood or the brightly lit streets nearby, and as you become more comfortable and confident, you might want to venture beyond the city limits into forests, hills, and fields for a darker adventure.

If you feel scared, it’s good to have company. Every small sound or approaching shadow can feel threatening. Darkness makes the terrain more difficult even on familiar paths. You should slow your pace and not expect to walk at the same speed or cover the same distance as during the day. Starting an evening walk aiming for sunset can be a great motivation to unwind after a tense day. The best time for a night walk is when the full moon is out. If you rely only on natural light instead of artificial lighting, your eyes will adapt to the darkness and your night vision will be enhanced, allowing you to observe your surroundings better. It can take up to 45 minutes for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark, but it only takes one second of exposure to direct light to affect your night vision. Above all, you should avoid walking distractedly at night. While smartphones are convenient for use as flashlights and for tracking your location, they can also be a source of distraction.

Hanyangdoseong Moonlight Night Tour Promotional Poster.
Photo by Seoul City

If you are in Seoul, Cheonggyecheon, Gwanghwamun Square, Naksan Park, Namsan, Haneul Park, 63 Building, Bukaksan, Banpo Bridge, Maebongsan, Seonyudo, and Seokchon Lake are popular night walking spots. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will hold the ‘2023 Hanyangdoseong Moonlight Night Walk’ event over two days on the 21st and 22nd. This year, citizens will participate as special investigators of the Joseon Special Investigation Unit in a mission tour titled . The event runs from 7 PM to 10 PM at night, with two sessions each day: the first at 7 PM and the second at 8 PM. Participants can join in both directions along the Hanyangdoseong Naksan section, from ‘Jangsu Village Marker Stone ~ Gakjaseong Stone ~ 369 Masil ~ Hyehwa Gate ~ Hanyangdoseong Hyehwa-dong Exhibition and Information Center.’

Oak Valley, located in Wonju City, Gangwon Province, will hold a unique walking event called the ‘2023 Oak Valley Night Walk’ on May 3rd at 7 PM in collaboration with the Korea Walking Association. The course is 5 km long (starting from the plaza → cart trail → Sonata of Light → Sculpture Park → returning to the plaza). The event will recruit 1,000 participants on a first-come, first-served basis (participation fee 10,000 KRW). Participants will receive an armband, glow-in-the-dark headband, completion button (given upon finishing), and admission to Sonata of Light (worth about 20,000 KRW). The Gyeongju Namsan Research Institute holds the Gyeongju Namsan Moonlight Walk once a month. Each session recruits 50 participants on a first-come, first-served basis to tour Changrim Temple Site, Hwabaekjeong Pavilion, Geumojeong Pavilion, Haemok Pass, and other locations.