[One Day Ten Thousand Steps] Gwangmyeong City Embracing Barefoot, Creating Seven Loess Trails

Gwangmyeong City is creating loess trails in seven urban parks. By November this year, loess trails will be completed in two parks: Hyeonchung Neighborhood Park and Wangjaesan Neighborhood Park. Next year, additional loess trails will be established in five more neighborhood parks. The project aims to improve citizen accessibility and promote health rights by creating loess trails, which are usually found on mountain hiking trails and forest areas, within neighborhood parks close to the city center.

First, a 430-meter loess trail will be constructed in Hyeonchung Neighborhood Park located in Cheolsan 2-dong, and a 200-meter loess trail in Wangjaesan Neighborhood Park in Cheolsan 3-dong by the end of this year. Next year, loess trails will be created in Neobudae Neighborhood Park (500m) in Gwangmyeong 5-dong, Dodeoksan Neighborhood Park (200m) in Gwangmyeong 7-dong, Cheolmangsan Neighborhood Park (300m) in Haan 2-dong, Deokan Neighborhood Park (300m) in Soha 2-dong, and Iljik Waterfront Park (250m) in Iljik-dong. The loess trails will be developed by supplementing existing walking paths with loess soil and installing convenience facilities such as exercise equipment and foot-washing stations nearby.

The city will also integrate senior employment projects into the newly created loess trails. This initiative was proposed by the senior committee’s employment subcommittee under the mayor’s direct supervision this year. It is expected to provide a healthy experience for citizens using the trails while creating jobs for seniors by assigning them maintenance and management duties for the loess trails, achieving a “win-win” effect.

Park Seung-won, Mayor of Gwangmyeong City, is inspecting the facilities on the Gurumsan hiking trail and listening to citizens' complaints.
[Photo by Gwangmyeong City]

There are naturally formed loess trails and loess floors mainly on hiking trails, and in Gwangmyeong City, three representative locations are the Gurumsan Forest Bathing Area, Seodoksan Hobonggol, and near the Dodeoksan Uramhoe Training Ground. All three sites are managed by the city, and a foot-washing station has been completed at the Hobonggol loess trail to enhance resident convenience.

Park Seung-won, mayor of Gwangmyeong City, recently held a “Live Communication On-site” event at the loess trails in Gurumsan Forest Bathing Area and Seodoksan Hobonggol. Mayor Park inspected the newly installed Hobonggol foot-washing station, walked the loess trails with citizens, engaged in conversations, listened to their suggestions, and introduced plans for loess trail development. Mayor Park stated, “We will strive to enhance spatial welfare so that citizens can find vitality and restore their lives in nearby parks, gardens, rivers, and forests.”

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