Sokcho Flower Seedling Garden Barefoot Yellow Soil Path Gains Popularity... Extended Night Hours Well Received

Sokcho City in Gangwon Province revealed that the cumulative number of visitors to the Barefoot Yellow Soil Path at the Flower Seedling Garden, which opened last month for citizens who wish to walk barefoot even in winter, has reached about 1,600.

Sokcho City revealed that the cumulative number of visitors to the Barefoot Yellow Soil Path at the Flower Seedling Garden, which opened last month for citizens who wish to walk barefoot even in winter, has reached about 1,600. Photo by Sokcho City

Following the creation of the Barefoot Yellow Soil Path at Yeongrang Lake, Sokcho City has also established a barefoot walking path at Cheongcho Lake, positioning itself as a wellness tourism destination centered around barefoot walking. The combined annual cumulative number of visitors to these two locations in 2025 reached approximately 100,000. However, due to safety concerns associated with outdoor barefoot walking paths in winter, the paths have been temporarily closed during the season, leaving some visitors disappointed.

In response, on December 11, 2025, the city newly opened a Barefoot Yellow Soil Path inside a greenhouse at the Flower Seedling Garden in Nohak-dong.

The Barefoot Yellow Soil Path, designed so that citizens can walk barefoot in winter regardless of temperature or weather conditions, measures 160 meters in length and 1.5 meters in width. It is equipped with amenities such as a yellow soil ball zone, a hot water foot-washing station, and shoe lockers.

Along the path, seeds for spring flowers are being cultivated for next year, allowing visitors to observe the budding spring flowers as they grow. Additionally, small flower beds have been created within the facility, providing visitors with charming sights to enjoy.

Starting December 29, 2025, in response to citizens' requests, the facility's opening hours were extended from the previous 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. As a result of actively incorporating citizens' suggestions, the cumulative number of visitors from December 11, 2025, to January 18, 2026, reached 1,604.

An average of 41 people visited the path daily, with as many as 80 people walking barefoot and improving their health on the busiest days.

The Barefoot Yellow Soil Path at the Sokcho Flower Seedling Garden will operate until March 31, 2026. After that, the greenhouse will be used to plant seasonal flowers, and the Barefoot Yellow Soil Path is scheduled to reopen around October 2026.

Lee Byeongseon, Mayor of Sokcho, stated, "The indoor barefoot walking path, which was created as an alternative to the Yeongrang Lake and Cheongcho Lake barefoot walking paths that are closed during winter, has received a positive response from visitors. We will continue to do our best to manage the facility so that citizens can use it comfortably."