Muan-gun Walking Trail Contest... Over 1,200 Participants at Namak Waterfront Park

Published 15 May.2023 16:43(KST)

Walkable City Muan Officially Promoted as a Great City for Walking

Healthy Healing While Strolling on Trails, Many Family Participants

On the 13th, Muan County, Jeollanam-do (Governor Kim San) successfully held the ‘Walkable City Muan Declaration Ceremony and the 1st Muan Trail Walking Competition’ at Namak Bicycle Park, with the participation of over 1,200 residents.

According to the county on the 15th, the pre-event started with performances including acoustic guitar, ocarina, and choir by the Samhyang-eup Resident Autonomy Center club, followed by the official start with the declaration of Walkable City Muan, a city good for walking.

(Second from the left) Kim San Gusu and (third from the left) Kim Kyung-hyun, chairman of the Muan County Council, are walking with residents at Naman Waterfront Park during the Muan Trail Walking Competition.
[Photo by Muan County]

In his commemorative speech, Governor Kim San stated, “By creating regionally specialized walking trails throughout the daily lives of residents, we aim to build an environment where anyone can walk easily. We will also promote walking culture by training walking exercise leaders and fostering walking clubs among residents.”

Before the main walk, participants warmed up with stretching exercises led by a professional instructor, followed by education on proper walking posture and guidance by walking instructors affiliated with the Korea Walking Association, marking the start of the walking competition.

The event, which also included a “Ssedam Running” (plogging) activity to protect the environment, saw about 300 students participating with their families, making family units notably prominent among the participants.

During the one-hour round trip walk from Namak Bicycle Park to the deck with the windmill at Namak Waterfront Park, participants enjoyed the open views of the Yeongsan River, flower beds, and decks throughout the waterfront park, fully savoring the beautiful month of May.

Residents who participated in the event unanimously expressed satisfaction, saying, “We hope that walking competitions that heal both body and mind like today’s event will continue annually.”

Kang Myung-su, head of the Namak New Town Business Office, said, “We plan to continue holding walking competitions and develop various policies to improve the walking environment and spread walking culture, making Muan a better place for residents to live.”