Nowon-gu Creates Yellow Soil Path Along Jungnangcheon Embankment

Creation of Barefoot 'Hwangtotgil' Path on Embankment Road near Changdonggyo~Nokcheongyo by Jungnangcheon across from Sanggye High School
Expanded to 510m after 60m pilot operation in June with 83% user satisfaction
New foot washing station installed, hazardous trees removed, opened on September 11, aiming to create Hwangtotgil paths by district later

Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it has completed the creation of the 'Jungnangcheon Embankment Hwangto Trail,' where people can fully experience and feel nature.

Recently, 'barefoot walking,' which offers light exercise benefits along with meditation effects, has emerged as a health management trend, giving rise to the new term 'earthing tribe.' Earthing refers to grounding, that is, making contact with the earth.

With the walking practice rate (the percentage of residents walking at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week, over one week) ranking first among Seoul's autonomous districts for three consecutive years, Nowon residents, who have a strong interest in walking, have proposed the creation of a 'Hwangto Trail' through various channels.

The district benchmarked Hwangto trails from local governments nationwide, including Daejeon, and in June created a 60-meter-long Hwangto trail along the embankment near Changdong Bridge to Nokcheon Bridge across from Sanggye High School on Jungnangcheon. Considering the natural characteristics of Hwangto, which is sensitive to humidity and sunlight, the trail was constructed using a dry method, and dedicated personnel were assigned for Hwangto maintenance and injury prevention.

After a one-month pilot operation, a satisfaction survey showed that 83% of respondents, totaling 424 people, were satisfied with the Hwangto trail. They also suggested installing signs prohibiting bicycle entry, shoe racks, and foot washing stations, expressing support for the trail's operation and extension.

Accordingly, the district decided to extend the Hwangto trail by 450 meters to operate a total of 510 meters and began construction in August. After removing hazardous trees, adding additional foot washing stations, and leveling the Hwangto surface, the trail opened on the 11th.

Anyone who wants to walk barefoot on the dirt path can use the trail. However, for safety reasons, operation is suspended during rain, and pets are prohibited.

Encouraged by residents' interest in barefoot walking, the district plans to create Hwangto trails in different zones. Following the first Jungnangcheon Embankment Hwangto Trail (Sanggye zone), plans are being reviewed to create a trail around the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail Solbat Neighborhood Park (Gongneung zone).

In addition, Nowon is home to the 'Bulgamsan Forest Healing Center,' Seoul's first urban forest healing center, where people can manage their health in harmony with nature. Programs such as barefoot forest walks, herbal foot baths, healthy herbal tea tastings, meditation, and yoga are offered. All programs operate on a reservation basis for 10 people per session, and reservations for the following month's programs can be made on the district website on the 9th of each month.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “We are creating the Hwangto trail so that residents can enjoy Nowon's natural blessings while keeping up with health management trends. We will continue to discover and promote various projects so that people can enjoy healthy leisure activities within the healing city of Nowon.”