[One Day Ten Thousand Steps] Moratgil Commute, Hanam Mayor Lee Hyun-jae, "We Will Make the Best Walking Trail in Korea"

Lee Hyun-jae, Mayor of Hanam City, visited Bukhansan Footpath for benchmarking on the weekend of August 5. The Bukhansan Footpath is a 4.5 km barrier-free trail starting from Silrak Children's Park in Hong Eun-dong, passing Hongrok Badminton Court and Samha Transport Terminal, and ending at Okcheon Hermitage. It is a specially designed walking path for vulnerable pedestrians such as the elderly, wheelchair users, pregnant women, and strollers. The entire route maintains a slope of less than 10%, and 90% of the path is constructed with wooden decks, creating an eco-friendly walking trail. Mayor Lee posted his impressions along with a video on Facebook, praising that "Bukhansan Footpath is well equipped with various facilities such as park guardians, a forest book caf?, and hammocks," and added, "Hanam’s natural environment is even more excellent. I will do my best to make Hanam the number one walking trail in South Korea." On the same day, the mayor also inspected the sandy path and water playground established along the Han River embankment trail.

On August 5th, Mayor Lee Hyun-jae, who visited the Bukhansan foothill trail for benchmarking, posted a video and his impressions on his Facebook. [Source=Mayor Lee's Facebook]

The sandy path along the Han River embankment trail is a representative attraction of Hanam City, widely used by many citizens amid the barefoot walking craze. After a month of construction, about 4.9 km of the trail was developed into a sandy path suitable for barefoot walking in July. Mayor Lee also walks the sandy path daily on his way to work, listening to residents’ inconveniences and suggestions to improve the facilities.

On the morning of the 4th, he took some time to visit the sandy path. Introducing citizens’ opinions that "bicycles on the sandy path cause inconvenience," he said, "We will install more foot-washing facilities and add more sand to ensure that users are not inconvenienced, making it the best walking spot in South Korea." Hanam City has been carrying out maintenance projects including additional sand spreading and sterilization along the entire sandy path based on citizens’ feedback. Responding to residents’ concerns about walking difficulties caused by sand loss due to the prolonged rainy season, additional sand spreading was conducted to create a soft sandy path. To alleviate citizens’ psychological anxiety, 250-degree high-temperature steam sterilization was performed throughout the entire path, and signs restricting pet access were installed to prevent contamination from impurities and pollutants in advance.

Mayor Lee aspires to develop Hanam into a city with the number one walking trails in South Korea and the highest satisfaction barefoot walking paths in the metropolitan area. In April, the city created the ‘No. 1 Red Clay Walking Trail’ at Pungsan Neighborhood Park No. 3, where citizens can heal their body and mind. Using top-grade red clay, a 150-meter circular wet red clay walking trail was constructed, along with convenience facilities such as a foot-washing station and a pergola (Western-style pavilion).

Lee Hyun-jae, Mayor of Hanam City, is walking along the 'Hanam City's No. 1' loess walking trail established in Pungsan Neighborhood Park No. 3 (739 Deokpung-dong, Hanam City) on April 21.
[Photo by Hanam City]

The Gusan Forest trail at Misa Hangang Park No. 5 (832 Mangwol-dong) will also be completed soon. About 1 km of palm mat walking trail and 200 m of circular red clay walking trail will be constructed. After completion, the previously monotonous walking trail section will be enhanced with additional trails, establishing it as a famous spot in Misa Hangang Park that offers diverse walking experiences amid the forest. Unlike the wet red clay walking trail at Pungsan Neighborhood Park No. 3, the red clay trail in Gusan Forest will be constructed as a dry red clay walking trail. This change was made reflecting experts’ opinions that the benefits of red clay trails are the same whether wet or dry.

Mayor Lee said, "In the case of Misa Hangang Park No. 5, visitors will be able to enjoy a different charm of walking trails harmonized with the forest," and added, "We will continue to create eco-friendly walking trails throughout the Han River embankment and other areas."