[One Day Ten Thousand Steps] Barefoot Walking Craze... Seoul Districts "More Loess Paths"

As the perception that walking barefoot is good for health spreads, new bare-foot paths made of loess soil are being established across Seoul.

Songpa-gu has created loess paths in Songpa Naru Park and Ogeum Park. Using fine loess soil sourced from Boryeong, Chungnam, the paths are filled to a depth of 20 cm to maintain a soft texture. Foot washing stations have also been installed, along with Western-style pavilions to allow convenient use even on rainy days. At Songpa Naru Park, located by Seokchon Lake, a 107-meter-long loess path has been created. By utilizing part of the existing walking trail on the west side of Seokchon Lake, park damage has been minimized, allowing visitors to experience the loess path while overlooking the lake in the forest. In Ogeum Park, a 110-meter-long 'Loess Experience Zone' was created by taking advantage of the park's terrain, where most walking trails are dirt paths.

Citizens are walking barefoot on the loess road created by Guro-gu along the Anyangcheon Stream.
[Photo by Guro-gu]

Guro-gu has built a loess path of about 500 square meters along the Anyangcheon Stream. On October 25, a completion ceremony was held with Guro-gu Mayor Mun Heon-il and about 30 local residents attending, where they walked barefoot on the loess path. The loess path is located under Gocheok Bridge on the right bank (621-8 Guro-dong), including Sodangil and the embankment road near the Seoul Animal Welfare Support Center. The 300-meter section of the embankment road and Sodangil is covered with loess soil, forming a circular route.

Seocho-gu will introduce two new barefoot paths near the Gyeongbu Expressway this December: 200 meters at Gilmajung-gil (near Yongheori Neighborhood Park) and 150 meters at Gilmajung-gil (from Jamwon IC to Sinsa 2 Overpass). In September, two new barefoot paths were established: 195 meters at Banpo Neighborhood Park (green area next to Seocho-gu Sports Center) and 250 meters along Banpo Stream (from Banpo Raemian Prestige to Banpo Hillstate). Next year, loess paths will be created at Seoripul Park (around Cheonggwonsa Temple) for 600 meters, Umyeonsan (around Aqua Overpass) for 200 meters, and the Culture and Arts Park (near The-K Hotel) for 200 meters.

Yang Chae-gu Mayor Lee Gi-jae (second from the right) is walking barefoot on the Anyangcheon mud trail with citizens. [Photo by Yangcheon-gu]

Yangcheon-gu plans to create or renovate 20 barefoot paths totaling 3.7 kilometers by 2025. The district has selected seven locations in Mok-dong including Dalmaeul, Yongwangsan, and Mokma Park; five locations in Sinwol-dong including Hanul, Gomdallae, and West Seoul Lake Park; and eight locations in Sinjeong-dong including Galsan, Sintree, Gyenam, and Onsu Park.

Dongjak-gu has opened barefoot loess paths at Sangdo Park (Children’s Forest Experience Center), Hyeonchung Park (Children’s Forest Experience Center), and Daebang Park, and plans to add more than six barefoot loess paths linked to existing walking trails at Dongjak Dog Park, Nodeul Naru Park, and others by the first half of next year.