[One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day Thousand Characters] Barefoot Craze Sweeps Nationwide Despite Freezing Weather

Busan Declares the 11th of Every Month as 'Walking Day'
Local Governments Join in Popular Barefoot Walking Trend

Last week, when a fierce 'Arctic' cold wave hit the coastal areas of Busan, there were people walking barefoot on the beach despite the temperatures dropping below freezing. Although they were heavily dressed in thick clothes, gloves, scarves, and earmuffs, their feet were bare. Just looking at them seemed to convey the biting cold at their toes, but the barefoot walkers moved with vigor.

The barefoot walking craze shows no signs of cooling down even in cold weather. In Busan, the number of citizens walking barefoot, especially along the seaside, has recently increased significantly. At Busan Dadaepo Beach, known as an ideal spot for barefoot walking due to its shallow waters, you can find people walking barefoot regardless of the weather. Since the seawater temperature remains above 10 degrees Celsius even in midwinter, barefoot walking is possible no matter how cold it gets.

Due to this popularity, Busan City designated the 11th of every month as 'Walking Day.' The purpose is to encourage walking in daily life once a month. The date '11' symbolizes two legs, giving the day its name and meaning. To enable both citizens and tourists to participate in walking, the city also created the 'YOLO Galmaetgil' trail. This trail is a must-walk travel route in Busan. It is designed as a tourist-friendly course that can be completed within half a day per route. The trail consists of a total of 10 courses: 7 coastal routes, 1 riverside route, and 2 mountain hiking routes, allowing walkers to experience the unique charm of Busan where pristine nature and urban areas coexist beautifully.

It is not only the beaches of Busan. Walking has gained nationwide popularity despite the severe cold. Especially, those who take off their shoes and socks to step on the soil do not mind the cold. Several local governments have also started creating barefoot walking trails this year. For example, Gyeongsangbuk-do plans to build barefoot walking trails tailored to the characteristics of its 22 cities and counties. They began a pilot project, allocating 400 million KRW each for new barefoot walking trails in Gimcheon, Andong, and Yeongju, and 120 million KRW each for renovating existing trails in Gumi and Cheongsong. Additionally, they plan to expand access to school playgrounds and build convenience facilities along rivers and parks to enable barefoot walking in daily life. In the first half of the year, a Barefoot Walking Association will also be established with the Gyeongbuk Sports Council and city/county sports councils.

In Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province, barefoot walking trails will be expanded by region this year. Currently, there are 10 barefoot-friendly walking trails in Changwon. The city plans to add 23 more. Among these, sites and related budgets have already been secured for 10 trails.

The popularity of barefoot walking stems from its health benefits in daily life. Walking on soil provides acupressure effects and helps relieve stress. It also aids in stabilizing blood pressure, preventing cardiovascular diseases, and maintaining muscle mass. However, it is not advisable to go barefoot recklessly. When walking barefoot on the beach in subzero temperatures, it is important to immediately dry off to maintain body temperature and prevent frostbite. Additionally, diabetic patients need to be cautious as wounds on their feet heal slowly and their sensitivity to cold may be reduced.

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