[One Day 10,000 Steps, One Day 1,000 Characters] Local Attractions, Diet, and Donation... Anseong City's Walking Challenge

"If you walked for dieting in June, then during the vacation season of July and August, try walking by visiting local attractions in your hometown."

Anseong City is operating a monthly walking challenge with different themes each month to promote physical activity and the habit of walking among local residents. Once the theme is set each month, participants install the WalkOn app, join the Anseong City community, choose to participate in the challenge, and then simply carry their smartphones while walking. The general goal is 200,000 steps over 20 days, and all who complete the challenge receive a 5,000 KRW mobile gift certificate. Last year, a total of 13 walking challenges were held, with 14,820 citizens participating throughout the year. The number of official WalkOn Anseong City community members reached 7,758 as of December 31, 2022, marking a 32.2% increase compared to the previous year.

The theme for January was New Year's health resolutions. During the challenge period, participants who shared their health resolutions on the official WalkOn community board were entered into a draw where 50 people received health lifestyle practice items as additional prizes. February’s challenge was titled "Just Walked." In April, a "Donation Walking Challenge" was held. Over 22 days, if the total steps of participants who agreed to donate reached the goal of 100 million steps, a predetermined amount would be donated. A total of 1,107 people participated in this challenge, and the donation was designated for relief efforts for Turkey and Syria disaster victims through the Korean Red Cross. The Anseong City Public Health Center donated 2.5 million KRW in the name of the "Anseong Citizens Walking Challenge Participants" upon achieving the goal. The theme for May was "Walking with Integrity." Considering that masks could not be removed due to fine dust even before the end of COVID-19, this theme expressed the hope that our minds and environment would be as clear as the May sky. In June, due to worsening obesity-related indicators, the challenge titled "Lightly, Walk" was conducted targeting local residents. It ran from June 7 to 29, lasting 23 days, with a goal of 200,000 steps (up to 10,000 steps counted per day).

Opening ceremony of the Anseong Matjumm Land Trail Walking Competition in October 2022
[Photo by Anseong City]

The challenge running through July and August is a Stamp Walking Challenge designed to encourage visits to nearby Anseong attractions and promote walking and rest during the hot summer. The subtitle is "It's Summer! Visit Local Attractions and Walk." Over two months, participants visit four Anseong attractions (Anseong Matchum Land, Mirinae Holy Site, Chiljangsa Temple, Geumgwang Lake), walk there, and collect stamps upon reaching designated spots. All four stamps must be collected. Those who achieve the goal will receive a 5,000 KRW mobile gift certificate. Lee Ji-eun, Director of Health Promotion at Anseong City Public Health Center, said, "Please drive safely during the stamp tour, and when visiting Chiljangsa Temple and Mirinae Holy Site, we ask for quiet walking. We hope you have a healing time walking and resting with your family and stay healthy through the hot weather."