[One Day Ten Thousand Steps] Reflecting on Liberation Day While Walking... What Are the Main Routes?

Walking events were held across the country to commemorate the 78th Liberation Day. The events, organized with the purpose of promoting health and reflecting on the significance of Liberation Day, received enthusiastic responses from citizens.

The ‘27th Citizens’ Peaceful Unification Prayer Walking Event’ held in Namyangju City took place on a 3.5 km course along the walking trail around Hongyureung. Participants were given household Taegeukgi flags and Taegeukgi-shaped fans on a first-come, first-served basis, and there was also a raffle for prizes such as bicycles and fans. In Gimhae City, Gyeongnam Province, the ‘78th Liberation Day 8.15 Liberation Day Commemorative Peaceful Unification Forest Trail Walking Event’ started at 8 a.m. from Gimhae Stadium and proceeded on a 5 km round-trip course passing the shooting range, Samgye Baseball Stadium, and the Welfare Center for the Disabled, with the Gongbyeong Tower as the turnaround point. Before the event, side events such as face painting, hand and foot therapy, and Goryeo acupressure therapy were held, along with Taekwondo demonstrations and dance performances.

Commemorative photo of the 'Forest Trail Walking Contest' celebrating August 15 Liberation Day
[Photo by Gimhae City]

About 500 residents of Mueul-myeon, Gumi City, Gyeongbuk Province, started from the Mueul-myeon Administrative Welfare Center at 6 a.m. and walked and ran together on a 3.5 km course. Around 1,000 people attended the event held at Chilwon Public Stadium in Haman County, Gyeongnam Province. Participants walked a roughly 2.5 km course starting from Chilwon Public Stadium, turning around at the Ace Apartment complex, and returning to Chilwon Public Stadium.

The ‘29th Seosan Citizens’ One Heart Walking Event’ in Seosan City, Chungnam Province, was held on a 2.1 km course passing Dangunjeon Front, Buchunsan Observatory, and Seogwangsa Temple, returning to the Cultural Center. The ‘20th National Walking Event Commemorating the 78th Liberation Day 8.15’ held in Jeonju, Jeonbuk Province, took place at the outdoor plaza by Jeonjucheon Stream. About 500 citizens walked a 2 km round-trip course from Baekje Bridge to Sapyeong Bridge, holding Taegeukgi flags in their hands.

Citizens attending the walking event held by Seosan City in celebration of Liberation Day
[Photo by Seosan City]

In the Namsan area of Seoul, the non-profit housing welfare organization Korea Habitat held the ‘2023 815 Run’ to improve the housing environment for descendants of independence activists. This year, a record number of 8,150 participants walked or ran a set distance (3.1 km / 4.5 km / 8.15 km) at their preferred time and place. Among the participants who could run 8.15 km, 815 were selected by lottery to run together with singer Sean on the day. Sean ran 81.5 km.

Promotional image for the Liberation Day campaign by CU and Yap-it Move

Non-face-to-face events also stood out. Convenience store CU is conducting the 8.15 donation campaign ‘Move for 8.15’ with Yapit Move to improve the housing environment for descendants of independence activists. From August 7 to September 3, if the total combined distance of walking, running, and cycling by all campaign participants reaches 815,000 km, CU and Yapit Move will each donate 8.15 million won as a mission success. Users of the Yapit Move app are automatically enrolled, and general participants can also join by moving to Yapit Move through CU’s own commerce app, Pocket CU. Participants’ achievement records during the campaign period can be checked in real time on the app, and rankings from 1st to 100th place are calculated weekly, with prizes awarded to outstanding participants.