[One Day Ten Thousand Steps] Walking Also Needs Education... Systematic Walking Exercise Through Training Walking Instructors

In daily life, we walk hundreds or thousands of steps. Posture, attitude, and gait do not matter because the purpose of walking at this time is 'movement.' However, walking as exercise is different.

To enhance the exercise effect, 'correct walking' should be performed, where the arms swing naturally back and forth, the abdomen is engaged, the back is kept straight, and the soles of the feet touch the ground starting from the heel. There is even a professional training program for cultivating proper walking, which is gaining attention.

The Korea Walking Association, a non-profit organization under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, is the official certification body for health walking instructors. Dr. Oh Han-jin serves as the president of the association, which educates and trains professional walking instructors to promote walking exercise and expand the base of walking clubs. Every January, May, and October, nationwide health walking competitions are held, and on the first Saturday of each month, health walking events take place. On the fourth Saturday, the association conducts the Love Sharing Walking Campaign (walking for obesity and dementia prevention).

According to the Korea Walking Association, the health walking instructor training program includes theoretical education and practice on the first and second days, covering medical perspectives on walking and physiological characteristics. On the third and fourth days, practical training is conducted focusing on brain aging prevention, exercise, and correct walking programs. Walking instructors can assist in the association's walking competitions and be dispatched upon requests for walking education from public health centers or other institutions. They can also operate local walking clubs or lead walking sessions on National Health Walking Days every month.

An association official stated, "Starting from the 26th of this month, there will be barefoot walking instructor training for 100 people, and due to high demand, there is a waiting list." They added, "Walking education conducted by unqualified instructors is occurring in some places, raising concerns about adverse effects from inappropriate education. We hope that professionally trained walking instructors will help people acquire proper walking techniques so that health walking contributes to public health."