Pohang's "Barefoot Walking 40 Course" Lectures Gain Popularity... Forests and Blue Sea

Anyone Can Join: Experiential Health Lectures and Promotion of Walking Culture
Forty Courses Embracing Urban Forests and Waterfront Paths
Pohang-Style Greenway Project

Pohang City, which was the first in the nation to designate the "Barefoot Walking 40 Course," is gaining attention as a walk-friendly city. The "Pohang Barefoot Walking 40 Course" lectures, themed around Pohang's natural environment of forests and blue sea, are enjoying great popularity.

Since last year, the Pohang Lifelong Learning Center has been operating a variety of experiential courses, including the Songdo Pine Forest Barefoot Walking, as part of the "Barefoot Walking Greenway Project." To date, a total of 70 participants have completed these courses.

The final class of the first half of the Barefoot Walking 40 Course held on the 18th at Songdo Solbatgil. Provided by Pohang City

Designed to foster public consensus and encourage practical participation, these courses have successfully raised interest in the barefoot walking movement.

Barefoot walking is an everyday exercise that anyone can easily enjoy regardless of time, place, or cost. As the barefoot walking trend spreads nationwide, the number of walking enthusiasts visiting Pohang is also increasing.

In particular, Pohang City has designated 40 urban forests and waterfront spaces?including Songdo Pine Forest, Heunghae Bukcheon Stream, Gigye Seosup, and the Hyeongsan Riverside?as the "Barefoot Walking 40 Course." The city continues to discover new walking courses within daily living areas and is accelerating efforts to create a walking environment that supports citizens' health.

A participant in the final class of the first half of the year, held on June 18 at Songdo Solbatgil, shared, "When I first tried barefoot walking, I thought it was just simple walking, but through the lectures, I was able to directly feel the positive effects on both my body and mind."

Park Eunsuk, Director of Lifelong Education, stated, "As green spaces in the city expand, demand for barefoot walking is also increasing. We will continue to expand these courses so that citizens can practice healthy living in their daily lives."

Since 2016, Pohang City has been actively promoting the "Greenway Project," working to expand urban forests and create a healthy, sustainable urban environment to build a green city where everyone wants to live.