[One Day Ten Thousand Steps One Day Thousand Characters] Walking with Nouns, Watching Movies and Listening to Music... The Transformation of National Parks

Twenty-one national parks across the country are undergoing a transformation. Cultural events where visitors can walk while conversing with notable figures and enjoy movies and music in nature will be held continuously.

The Korea National Park Service (Director Song Hyung-geun), under the Ministry of Environment, will operate the ‘National Park Cultural Events’ for five months starting from May 28. During the spring and early summer period (May to June), the ‘Walk with Notable Figures’ program will be held at four locations including Odaesan and Chiaksan, and the ‘Harmony Walking Contest,’ which involves people with disabilities, their guardians, and volunteers, will be held at two locations including Gayasan and Bukhansan.

Odaesan Small Concert Archive Photo [Photo provided by Odaesan National Park Office]

The ‘Walk with Notable Figures’ starts on May 28 at Odaesan (Seonjae-gil area), followed by Chiaksan (June 3, Guryong-gil area), Songnisan (June 11, Sejo-gil area), and Gyeongju (June 25, Samneung Historical and Cultural Trail area). At Odaesan, Professor Seo Eun-guk from Yonsei University’s Department of Psychology, author of works such as ‘The Origin of Happiness,’ will participate. At Chiaksan, Road FC Chairman Jung Moon-hong and comedian Lee Seung-yoon, MC of ‘I Am a Natural Person,’ will join. Songnisan will feature Professor Shin Won-seop from Chungbuk National University’s Department of Forestry, and actor Lee Jeong-yong will participate in Gyeongju. The ‘Walk with Notable Figures’ program allows unlimited on-site participation. Online reservations are also available, and 50 pre-registered participants per national park will receive eco-friendly lunch boxes and dolls as souvenirs. The Harmony Walking Contest will be held at Gayasan (June 15) and Bukhansan (June 24), with only 60 online pre-registered participants allowed per national park.

During the summer period (June to August), the ‘National Park Environmental Film Festival’ will be held at campgrounds where visitors can enjoy nature while watching movies. Starting with the Deogyusan Muju Mountain Village Film Festival (June 3-4), the festival will be held in July at Woraksan (7th), Gyeryongsan (14th), Chiaksan (21st), Mudeungsan (22nd), Odaesan (23rd), Sobaeksan (29th), and Naejangsan (29th), and in August at Jirisan (11th-12th), Dadohae (13th), Wolchulsan (19th), and Taeanhaean (26th).

Citizens are walking at the filming location of the movie on Cheongsando Island in the Dadohae region. [Photo by Korea National Park Service]

The ‘Youth Concert’ featuring local artists will take place in September and October at Seoraksan (September 13 and October 7), Mudeungsan (October 7), Hallyeohaesang (October 14), and Taebaeksan (October 21). Temple concerts are scheduled for October at Woraksan Deokjusa and Juwangsan Daejeonsa. Both the film festival and concerts allow free participation on-site without any limit on the number of attendees.

Song Hyung-geun, Director of the Korea National Park Service, said, "Through this National Park Cultural Event, we aim to provide visitors with diverse cultural experiences and will continue to operate cultural events that can be enjoyed in the natural settings of national parks in cooperation with local communities."