[Launch of Hamanhacheon Movement Headquarters] Developing Brain Health Content, Promoting Workplace Exercise, and Expanding Overseas Networking

Strategies to Expand the Nationwide Movement
Systematic Progress of Corporate and Organization Alliances
New Alternatives for Revitalizing Local Areas
Seeking Growth Plans by Adopting Overseas Cases

The platform and hub development of the walking and writing movement envisioned by the ‘Hamanhacheon (Harumanbo Harucheonja) National Movement Headquarters’ approaches from three main aspects: developing brain health promotion content and programs, spreading the Hamanhacheon movement within local communities and workplaces, and establishing overseas networking. Based on this, the strategy is to expand the Hamanhacheon movement into a nationwide campaign.

On the 15th, key guests attending the 'Hamanhacheon National Movement Headquarters Launch Ceremony' held at Namsan Hanok Village in Jung-gu, Seoul, are taking a group photo. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Asia Economy has interviewed over 100 individuals related to Hamanhacheon over the past six months since January this year. These include figures from politics, central and local governments, the business sector, medical field, academia, and civil society organizations. While sharing the health know-how of those who have practiced walking and writing in daily life for decades, it has also provided daily newsletters and articles featuring Korea’s best walking courses and inspiring writing phrases. Furthermore, the launch of the Hamanhacheon National Movement Headquarters is expected to serve as an opportunity for related walking and writing associations and organizations to collaborate and develop and distribute more advanced content and programs. Participants in the launch ceremony included Serotonin Culture, Korea Walking Association, Barefoot Walking National Movement Headquarters, Korea Stair Climbing and Walking Association, Korea Trail, and Swallaby, the operator of ‘WalkOn,’ as well as reputable experts, companies, and organizations, all working together to systematically promote the Hamanhacheon movement.

The content created in this way becomes a solid support for recognizing and practicing the importance of walking, writing, and brain health in local communities and workplaces. In particular, the Hamanhacheon movement can serve as a new alternative for regional revitalization amid the crisis of ‘local extinction.’ Representative examples include the ‘Ttubokyi Village’ in Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, and the ‘Life-saving Barefoot Walking Festival’ held in Jangsu-gun, Jeonbuk Province. Various events where walking enthusiasts gather have significant side effects such as stimulating interest in the region, increasing awareness, and creating economic added value. Alongside this, many companies are increasingly engaging in walking rewards for employee health and donations through walking accumulation as part of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management. The Hamanhacheon National Movement Headquarters plans to strengthen cooperation with companies and local governments to provide quality walking and writing content while establishing itself as a hub that spreads participation enthusiasm.

It also aims to build networking with several overseas countries that are ‘serious about walking’ to benchmark, deliver domestic information, and strengthen content. Asia Economy, while promoting the Hamanhacheon movement in the first half of this year, visited walking-advanced countries to discover content that could be helpful in Korea. They visited Okinawa, Japan, which succeeded in shedding the stigma of being a ‘non-walking region’ by promoting the ‘10,000 steps a day’ campaign, confirming the secrets to its success. This was thanks to various campaigns such as publishing local walking maps and conducting walking education. Additionally, in Copenhagen, Denmark, recognized as the world’s most walkable city, they identified the reasons behind this status. Excellent infrastructure such as pedestrian and bicycle roads spreading like capillaries and dedicated bridges created a ‘pedestrian paradise.’ In this way, the Hamanhacheon National Movement Headquarters is building diverse networks to identify overseas best practices and explore ways to adapt them domestically and grow the Hamanhacheon movement into a nationwide campaign.