Over 2,000 Residents Join the “Walking City Dongdaemun” Proclamation Ceremony
District Promotes Walking and Carbon Neutrality with Community Events and Urban Trails
On June 14, Dongdaemun District in Seoul held the “Walking Is Good! Walking City Dongdaemun” proclamation ceremony and the “2025 Dongdaemun District Residents’ One Heart Walking Day” event at the Hongneung Forest Trail of the National Institute of Forest Science.
Lee Pilhyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun District Office (center in the photo), is declaring "Walking City Dongdaemun." Provided by Dongdaemun District Office.
After the “Walking City Dongdaemun” proclamation ceremony, which began at 7 a.m., over 2,000 participants joined the walking event. Participants warmed up with light exercises and then walked the 2-kilometer Hongneung Forest Trail together with family, friends, and neighbors.
The earlier proclamation ceremony marked the first step toward transforming the city into a walking-centered community and practicing carbon neutrality in daily life. Walking City Dongdaemun aims to reduce short-distance vehicle use through walking, improve the urban structure to be pedestrian-oriented, decrease carbon emissions in the transportation sector, and promote residents’ health.
Based on the three core values of low carbon, health, and a pleasant walking environment, the district plans to gradually create urban conditions that enable walking as part of daily life. The district is developing the “Top 5 Walkable Trails in Dongdaemun,” which organically connect traditional markets, cultural facilities, and green corridors. The five walkable trails are: Herbal Medicine Market Trail (4.5 km), Cheongnyangni Trail of Great Change (4.0 km), Cheonjangsan Sky Trail (1.7 km), Baebongsan Nature Trail (3.5 km), and Four Seasons Flower Trail (5.0 km).
To further promote walking, the district is also operating resident participation programs. Activities such as mobile walking challenges, family-themed walks, and Nordic walking are designed to make walking a part of daily life and strengthen connections within the local community.
Projects to improve the walking environment are being pursued in parallel. The district is focusing on resolving practical inconveniences by maintaining school routes, creating barrier-free walkways, and organizing abandoned personal mobility devices (PMs). Along major rivers such as Jungnangcheon and Jeongneungcheon, attractive garden trails and loess paths are being created to expand riverside walking spaces. Themed walking areas are also being established, such as “Street of Knowledge” near KAIST Seoul Campus and the “Nighttime Hotspot” on Wangsan-ro.
Lee Pilhyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun District, stated, “Making the city more walkable is the simplest climate action that both protects residents’ health and reduces carbon emissions. We will continue to build a people-centered green city so that we can pass on a greener and more sustainable Dongdaemun District to our children.”
Scenes from the Dongdaemun District Residents' One Heart Walking Day event. Provided by Dongdaemun District.
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