[Launch of Hamanhacheon Movement Headquarters] "The Best Exercise Practiced in Daily Life" Participation and Support Messages from All Walks of Life

From the top left clockwise: Choo Kyung-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance; Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul; Lee Chang-yong, Governor of the Bank of Korea; Jung Hee-won, Professor of Geriatrics at Seoul Asan Medical Center; Kim Jae-jin, President of the Korean Digital Therapeutics Association; Noh Yeon-hong, President of the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association.

The "'One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day Thousand Characters (Hamanhacheon)' campaign has received participation and support messages from all walks of life. Various organizations and groups, as well as ordinary citizens, have expressed their determination to engage in walking and writing?the best exercises that protect brain health without any cost?in this era of longevity.

The One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day Thousand Characters movement has garnered sympathy from political circles, local governments, and the financial sector. Choo Kyung-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, stated, "The One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day Thousand Characters movement that started today can turn the steps heading to hospitals 10 or 20 years from now into steps toward family and friends." He added, "It may be difficult at first, but if you start with those close to you and support each other, the movement will soon become a part of daily life." Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul, said, "In the era of 100 years of life, pursuing 'physical health,' 'brain health,' and 'mental health' is very important, and I expect this to become a campaign that many people truly need." He introduced, "Seoul has many walking-friendly paths such as the 157 km-long Dulle-gil trail around the outskirts of Seoul and the Hangang Park. Utilizing these parks and trails through the One Day Ten Thousand Steps campaign will be helpful."

The Bank of Korea, which practices employee health management and donations through walking, also sent a message of participation. Lee Chang-yong, Governor of the Bank of Korea, said, "Walking 10,000 steps a day is the best exercise that can be easily practiced in daily life. Since COVID-19, the Bank of Korea has been conducting non-face-to-face sports events such as 'walking more than 50,000 steps in 10 days' to promote employee health." He added, "Writing a thousand characters a day not only improves concentration and cognitive ability but also greatly benefits mental health."

The pharmaceutical and medical industries, which protect public health, also supported the One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day Thousand Characters campaign. Noh Yeon-hong, Chairman of the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association, said, "The pharmaceutical bio-industry, which contributes to improving quality of life and human life and health, treats and manages various intractable diseases such as cancer and rare diseases, helping people live healthy lives and realize the dream of life extension." He emphasized, "The One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day Thousand Characters movement, which encourages walking and writing a lot, aligns with the raison d'?tre of the pharmaceutical bio-industry. Stimulating the brain is a simple yet realistic and effective way to maintain our health through consistency."

Kim Jae-jin, president of the Korean Society of Digital Therapeutics and a brain health authority as well as the bestselling author of "Wisdom of Reverse Thinking" and "Listen to Your Brain," said, "I have been researching the brain for 30 years, and this is the first time I have seen a media company conduct such a systematic national campaign." He expressed hope, "I expect the campaign to have a significant impact and serve as a foundation for improving not only the physical health but also the mental health of our people." Jeong Hee-won, professor of geriatric medicine at Seoul Asan Medical Center and author of the bestseller "You Can Age Slowly Too," which made waves in bookstores in the first half of the year, said, "Walking in daily life plays a very important role in elderly health. It is important to make walking a habit before entering old age to manage health in advance." She added, "I hope the One Day Ten Thousand Steps campaign will provide an opportunity for many readers to read the articles and not be intimidated by the number 10,000 steps but gradually make walking a part of their daily lives."