[One Day Ten Thousand Steps] Let's Make a Barefoot Walking Ordinance... What Will Change?

On October 20th, the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council held a plenary session and passed the "Ordinance on Supporting the Activation of Barefoot Walking in Gyeongsangbuk-do," which was proposed by Representative Kim Dae-il. The main contents of the ordinance include ▲establishing and implementing support plans for the activation of barefoot walking ▲support projects for barefoot walking activation, including the creation and expansion of barefoot walking trails and hosting related events ▲and provisions regarding administrative and financial support.

As the barefoot walking craze spreads, local councils are consecutively preparing related ordinances. This establishes a legal basis to promote support projects including the establishment of support plans for barefoot walking activation, creation and expansion of barefoot walking trails, hosting related events, promotion, and education.

Barefoot on Geumdangsan located in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City [Photo by Seo-gu, Gwangju]

The first place in the country to enact an ordinance to activate barefoot walking was the Jeonju City Council in Jeonbuk. In February, the Jeonju City Council passed the "Ordinance on the Activation and Support of Barefoot Walking in Urban Parks of Jeonju." According to the ordinance, the mayor of Jeonju must discover and promote policies and projects for barefoot walking activation, and facilities such as dirt paths and foot-washing stations can be installed in apartment complexes and urban parks. Additionally, necessary budgets can be supported for barefoot walking activation, and when constructing sidewalks in urban parks, at least 30% of the paths should be preferentially reviewed and reflected as barefoot walking trails.

In June, following Jeonju, the "Ordinance on the Activation and Support of Barefoot Walking in Urban Parks of Yongin" was passed in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. This was the second nationwide and the first in the Seoul metropolitan area. Subsequently, in August, the Chungju City Council passed an amendment to the "Ordinance on Supporting Walking Activation in Chungju," and Chungju decided to create additional "barefoot walking trails" in places such as Geumnyeong Small Park to build conditions for activating barefoot walking.

Among the Big 3 in the Seoul metropolitan area, the Seoul Metropolitan Council passed the "Ordinance on Supporting the Activation of Barefoot Walking in Seoul" in July. The ordinance defines "barefoot walking trails" as unpaved dirt paths suitable for barefoot walking in park areas, urban parks, hiking trails, and forest experience courses, and stipulates the mayor's responsibilities and matters related to the establishment and implementation of support plans for barefoot walking activation.

The Hwangtotgil Path at Haddeul Ecological Park in Hapcheon, Gyeongbuk [Photo by Hapcheon-gun]

Furthermore, the mayor of Seoul can ▲create, expand, and maintain barefoot walking trails ▲install and repair facilities for barefoot walking activation ▲conduct promotion and education necessary for barefoot walking activation ▲and promote projects recognized as necessary for supporting barefoot walking activation. Administrative and financial support necessary for barefoot walking activation can be provided. Ordinances have also been proposed and public discussions are underway in Gyeonggi and Incheon, and ordinance work to activate barefoot walking is ongoing in the 25 autonomous districts of Seoul as well as in metropolitan governments and city/county/districts nationwide.

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