Sinan-gun, Purple Island Healing Walking Contest 6km Purple Parade Continues

Over 1,300 Participants Heal While Viewing 45 Million Willow Loosestrife Flowers

The "2nd Purple Island Healing Walking Contest," hosted by Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do and organized by the Korea Walking Association, was held on the 10th with about 1,300 participants from all over the country.

According to the county on the 12th, the event, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, began with a Purple Contest, followed by a classical music performance, prize drawing, health promotion, and an opening ceremony. After on-site education such as walking with correct posture, participants formed a 6 km long purple procession on Purple Island, where the Lythrum salicaria flowers were in full bloom.

(On the right) Park Woo-ryang, the mayor of Shinan County, is walking on Purple Bridge with participants of the walking competition.
[Photo by Shinan County]

The contest encouraged participation from marginalized groups such as multicultural families. The oldest participant, Kim Eonnyeon (80 years old, female) from Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, attracted attention by saying, "I applied because I wanted to visit Purple Island at least once before I die."

Purple Island, where the contest was held, currently has 39,000㎡ of land covered with the largest scale of Lythrum salicaria in the country. The flower paths blooming throughout Purple Island along the coastal promenade became a place of healing for the participants.

County Governor Park Wooryang said, "I welcome all participants of the Purple Island Healing Walking Contest and hope this healing time in the purple feast with 45 million Lythrum salicaria and French lavender flowers will bring great emotion and comfort."