Starting in January next year, Gyeonggi Province will offer guided programs along two women’s historical exploration trails: "Paju Immyeongae-gil" and "Suwon Women’s Dam-gil."
In November, Gyeonggi Province installed informational monuments along these women’s historical trails in Suwon and Paju, highlighting women who contributed to society in various fields such as education, welfare, culture and the arts, and the independence movement. The province also began pilot operations of these trails.
The trails are set along routes frequently used by local residents, allowing both locals and visitors to naturally encounter the lives and achievements of these women during the pilot period.
Paju Immyeongae-gil covers approximately 1 kilometer in the Gyoha-dong area of Paju, with a total of six monuments installed. Governor Im Myeongae, who led the independence movement in Paju, is commemorated here. The trail begins with a signboard at the Gyoha-dong Administrative Welfare Center, where a March 1st Movement demonstration took place. At the site of her former home, visitors can learn about Im Myeongae’s life, balancing family responsibilities while continuing her independence activism.
After passing through the village, the trail leads to a wall dedicated to women independence activists on the outer wall of Gyoha Elementary School. Gyoha Elementary School was a focal point of the Paju independence movement, and its playground features monuments to both Im Myeongae and the March 1st Movement. The downhill path starting at the school’s main gate symbolically follows the route toward the Bongilcheon Police Substation, which represented colonial oppression during the independence movement. The Paju Immyeongae-gil trail concludes at the Gyoha Community Center.
Suwon Women’s Dam-gil tells the stories of women who played key roles in independence activism, education, medicine, religion, and other fields, set against the backdrop of Suwon, which developed into an administrative and historical center in modern times. The trail starts at the Suwon Family Women’s Center, home to the Room of Remembrance for women’s rights activist An Jeomsun, and continues through the Anglican Church of Suwon and Paldalsa, leading to Sanluri-gil, the site of the home of sisters Lee Hyunkyung and Lee Sunkyung.
The Suwon Women’s Dam-gil trail stretches for a total of 3 kilometers, passing by Jongno Church-the site where Mary Scranton established Samil Girls’ School-and ending at Maehyang Girls’ Information High School (formerly Samil Girls’ School). Along the way, the stories of women who led independent lives, including Na Hye-seok, Park Chungae, and Cha Injae, are featured.
From January next year, Gyeonggi Province will operate guided programs to help visitors gain a deeper understanding of each woman’s life and historical significance. The trail guides are a group of 47 individuals who completed a six-week training course from September to October this year and received certificates from the Governor of Gyeonggi Province.
Lee Jihyun, Director of the Gyeonggi Women’s Vision Center, stated, "By recording and highlighting the lives of women who lived independently and achieved so much, we hope to provide an opportunity to reframe male-centered history as history that belongs to everyone."
Meanwhile, the official opening of the Gyeonggi Women’s Historical Exploration Trails is scheduled for early next year. Guided services will be available for groups of three or more. To participate, visitors must apply at least one week in advance through the Gyeonggi Women’s Vision Center website (gg.go.kr/woman) or the Gyeonggi Sharing Service website (share.gg.go.kr).
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