[One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day One Thousand Characters] The Professor's Other Title Is Principal of Manbal School

Professor Kwon Taek-hwan of Daegu National University of Education holds another title as a principal. Professor Kwon began studying soil in 2000 and practices the belief that one should live close to the earth through barefoot walking. The Barefoot School of Korea, established in 2013, is not merely a school dreaming of curing diseases. It is a school that creates a culture of coexistence beyond ideology and religion, a cultural community that realizes the value of land freely given by nature and shares it with neighbors. Currently, about 100 local Barefoot Schools operate from Seoul to Jeju, striving to build a healthy and happy society.

Recently, Professor Kwon published for beginners to easily practice barefoot walking regardless of age or gender. He says that walking barefoot for just 3 days, 21 days, or 100 days can enable one to walk barefoot for life while maintaining health. He also states that barefoot walking is the best way to connect with the soil and awaken the dormant doctor within the body.

Professor Kwon Taek-hwan is giving a lecture on barefoot walking at an event hosted by Seongju County on August 30.
[Photo by Seongju County]

According to Professor Kwon, the more you walk barefoot, the more the soles of your feet are stimulated, activating brain senses, which enhances creativity and eliminates worries about dementia. Contact with various bacteria in the soil improves immunity, allowing the body to easily overcome any invading virus. Grounding with the earth removes unnecessary reactive oxygen species and static electricity from the body, helping one live energetically and youthfully. It promotes good sleep, reduces chronic fatigue, headaches, and back pain, improves flat feet, deepens breathing, and encourages abdominal breathing. While barefoot walking is not a cure-all, it certainly awakens the doctor within the body. Barefoot walking is powerful.

Professor Kwon said, "Many people know that barefoot walking is good. Nevertheless, there are three main reasons why they hesitate to start barefoot walking: fear of stepping on something sharp, dirtiness of the soil, and concern about others' gazes." He advises, "If you worry about stepping on something sharp, walk slowly during the day; if you think the soil is dirty, start on a well-maintained school playground." If the gaze of others is burdensome, he suggests walking together with people from Barefoot Schools nationwide. When asked which soil is best, he said, "Whether it is sandy loam, yellow soil, or beach sand, all are good. Beach sand is best for removing reactive oxygen species from the body, sandy loam is good for awakening brain senses and preventing dementia, and yellow soil is the best for interacting with beneficial bacteria in the soil."