Gyeonggi Province will create 1,000 ‘Heukhyanggi Barefoot Trails’ by 2026.
On the 13th, Gyeonggi Province announced that it allocated 24.9 billion KRW from the special adjustment grant (provincial funds) to each city and county in November this year, and will invest a total of 36.9 billion KRW including city and county funds to prioritize the creation of 403 ‘Heukhyanggi Barefoot Trails’ by June next year. Subsequently, the province plans to establish a total of 1,000 barefoot trails, with at least one trail in each of the 603 eup, myeon, and dong administrative districts across the province by 2026.
The barefoot trails will be created in natural and eco-friendly areas such as parks and forest paths that are within residents’ living areas, and will be equipped with convenience facilities such as foot washing stations, rest areas, and safety facilities. Currently, there are about 100 barefoot trails in Gyeonggi Province, and supplementary work will be carried out on the existing trails.
At the ‘Gyeonggi Heukhyanggi Barefoot Trail Creation Proclamation Ceremony’ held on the Barefoot Walking Trail at Surisan Forest Bathing Area in Gunpo City on the same day, Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon said, “I have been walking barefoot on the trail with my wife for about three months, and during my recent business trip to Europe, I took off my shoes and walked barefoot on a dirt path along the river in Amsterdam, Netherlands, which surprised the locals passing by. I also briefly communicated and somewhat promoted barefoot walking.”
Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon (right) attended the Gyeonggi Soil Scent Barefoot Path Creation Proclamation Ceremony held in Gunpo City on the 13th and took a commemorative photo with Park Dong-chang, President of the Barefoot Walking National Movement Headquarters. Photo by Gyeonggi Provincial Government
He added, “I declare the project to create 1,000 dirt trails for the health of the residents. We will create at least one trail in each of the 603 eup, myeon, and dong districts in Gyeonggi Province,” expressing his expectations by saying, “I believe that as residents walk, their bodies will become stronger, their minds healthier, and it will even reduce social costs.”
At the event, the Barefoot Walking National Movement Headquarters appointed Governor Kim Dong-yeon as honorary chairman. In addition, a foot printing ceremony was held with participants from all walks of life, from youth to the elderly, expressing the will to create barefoot trails that anyone, regardless of generation or gender, can enjoy, and to communicate and run barefoot together with the residents.
Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province plans to introduce a management system for the systematic and sustainable operation of the barefoot trails. Through the ‘Barefoot Walking Guide’ service, customized courses tailored to individuals’ health conditions and walking styles will be provided to residents, and an operation and management manual will be developed to systematically support the maintenance and management of the barefoot trails.
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