Haenam-gun, Dalma-godo Walking Trail Bustling with Tourists at the Start of Early Spring

"Walking with a Celebrity" Featuring Mountaineer Heo Young-ho on the 22nd

Haenam County in Jeonnam Province (Governor Myung Hyun-gwan) announced on the 18th that Dalma Godo, a renowned life trail marking the first spring of the Korean Peninsula, is bustling with spring walking travelers.

Despite inclement weather, about 2,000 walking travelers from across the country enjoyed the first signs of spring at the Dalma Godo Healing Walking Event, which opened on the 15th.

On the 15th, Soyoung Kim is performing calligraphy at the opening ceremony of the Dalmagodo Healing Walk. Provided by Haenam County

Even after the opening ceremony, walking travelers continue to visit on weekdays. The county is supporting visitors by operating a healing walking program every Saturday.

The walking programs are organized by theme, and on the 22nd, the second event, "Walking with a Celebrity," will take place. There will be a special opportunity to walk with mountaineer Heo Young-ho, who has reached the three poles and the highest peaks of all seven continents.

Participants can enhance their walking experience by sharing the celebrity's stories and insights. In the afternoon, a healing music concert featuring folk singer-songwriter Park Kangsoo will be held on the main stage at Mihwangsa Temple.

On the third week, the 29th, the "Healing Walk" program will be held, allowing participants to relax their bodies and minds in nature. A health check booth will be available, and participants can relieve stress and improve their well-being with a comfortable walk.

Finally, on the 5th of next month, there will be a "Child-Friendly Trail Walk" and a "Jubging Challenge" for children and parents. This event aims to remind participants of the importance of environmental protection and encourage practical actions for a cleaner environment.

More than 2,000 travelers nationwide are visiting Dalma Trail to walk. Photo by Haenam County

During the event period, there will also be Nordic walking experiences, healing music concerts, forest busking, and prize events featuring Haenam rice and Makgeolli.

Dalma Godo is a 17.74 km trail built on Dalmasan Mountain, home to the beautiful Mihwangsa Temple in the southernmost village. The trail was restored by hand, stone by stone, without any heavy machinery, faithfully following the old paths used by ancestors to minimize environmental damage and create the most comfortable walking route.

Dalmasan Mountain, influenced by a warm temperate climate, boasts rich forests and high biodiversity. Its rocky ridges, reminiscent of a dinosaur's backbone, stretch for 8 km, and the panoramic coastal views from the southern tip have earned it the nickname "Geumgangsan of the South."

Additionally, Dalma Godo has become a signature trail of the region, combining rich historical and cultural resources such as the thousand-year-old Mihwangsa Temple, Dosolam Hermitage, and Ijinseongji, as well as scenic peaks, rocky fields, mountain passes, springs, and various ecological landscapes full of stories.