[One Day Ten Thousand Steps] Bicycle Commuter Yuinchon’s Praise for Walking 'Walk Unstoppably'

Candidate for Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Yoo In-chon, arrived at the temporary office where the confirmation hearing preparation team is located on the morning of the 14th at 10:30 AM, riding a bicycle dressed in black sportswear. He left his home in Seongsu-dong, Seoul at 9:30 AM, and it took about 40 to 45 minutes. He said, "It's the perfect distance for morning exercise." He was a bit late because the bicycle tire went flat midway, but he said he would continue to ride his bicycle during the hearing period.

Candidate Yoo is an all-around sportsman. Walking is basic. He is skilled in cycling, marathon running, horseback riding, scuba diving, fencing, and kendo?there is nothing he cannot do. Even during his tenure as Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism under the Lee Myung-bak administration, and later as an actor, producer, and CEO of the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, he kept walking, running, and pedaling his bicycle. Last fall, he cycled 2,000 km across Europe, and during rehearsals for the play 'Faust' last winter, he commuted daily by bicycle for 30 km one way between his home in Seongsu-dong and the theater. He helps troubled youth by cycling across the country with them every year. On June 15th, he also attended as a founding member the launch ceremony of the Hamanhacheon National Movement Headquarters held at Namsangol Hanok Village in Jung-gu, organized by Asia Economy.

In 2007, Candidate Yoo published an autobiographical essay titled . He stayed in Tokyo, Japan, for eight months as a visiting researcher at Nihon University’s College of Art, during which he walked about 20 km daily and captured the 'joy of walking' and 'praise of walking.' He recalled, "The world viewed while walking at 6 km/h was truly refreshing. Paths I passed every day felt new, and the unexpected scenery I encountered when I accidentally took a wrong turn brought a warm smile. Changing the pace of life revealed a completely different world unfolding like a panorama."

On June 15, at the 'Hamanhacheon National Movement Headquarters Launch Ceremony' held in Hanok Village, Jung-gu, Seoul, (from left) Dr. Oh Han-jin, former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon, and Woo Byung-hyun, CEO of Asia Economy, key guests are taking a commemorative photo after the event. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Candidate Yoo advises people to try walking instead of using private cars or public transportation. "There are many pockets of time in daily life when you can walk. Not taking the elevator and walking instead, going a bit farther for lunch, walking to the transfer station instead of transferring by train, or walking to buy things?if you have the will to walk, you can secure quite a bit of time each day."

Candidate Yoo considers running to be a broad form of walking. Since both running and walking involve using two legs on the road to build stamina, they are essentially the same exercise. He says the fastest way to get from Seoul to Busan is 'to go with someone you love.' He said, "Time spent walking with someone you connect with feels really short," adding, "Walking with someone you like is the best way. Exercising with someone who shares your mindset brings joy beyond just overcoming boredom."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.