[Harumanbo Harucheonja] "Let's Walk Together: People with Disabilities and Non-Disabled Alike"

The 44th Disability Day on the 20th
Walking events held in Seoul, Busan, and other areas

On the 20th of this month, in celebration of the ‘44th Disability Day,’ events where people walk together with persons with disabilities will be held across the country.

The Mapo Disabled Welfare Center will host the ‘15th Mapo Turtle Marathon’ on the 13th at the Peace Plaza in Seoul’s Sangam World Cup Park. This event involves about 500 persons with disabilities, their families, and local residents walking without competing for rankings. The 6 km course starts at the Peace Plaza in World Cup Park, passes through Sky Park and Sunset Park, and returns to the Peace Plaza. Participants will receive snacks and souvenirs. Pre-event performances, including an orchestra composed of families of persons with disabilities, will also be held.

At Yeonji Park in Gimhae, Gyeongnam, the ‘5th Gimhae City Walking Festival for Persons with and without Disabilities’ will take place on the 16th. Approximately 600 participants, both with and without disabilities, are expected. This walking festival offers opportunities for non-disabled participants to experience disability-related programs as well as disabled sports such as Schulte tables and indoor rowing (ergometer). There is also a mandatory mission: participants wear name tags with certification stamps and must participate in experience activities to collect three stamps of different colors, then receive a fourth stamp at the final certification point before proceeding to the finish line.

The Busan Blind Welfare Center will hold the ‘Galmaetgil Health Walking Festival’ on the 19th, involving visually impaired persons, their families, and volunteers. This walking event is designed to support visually impaired individuals in establishing themselves as members of the local community through healthy social activities and to raise awareness of the importance of exercise for a happy life. The walking event will take place on the barrier-free forest trail in Gupo, Buk-gu, Busan.

On the 20th, 17 disability welfare centers in the Busan area will unite to conduct the disability awareness campaign ‘The 11th Damjaengi Walking Festival - A STEP FOR ALL, a Step for Everyone.’ This event aims to enhance understanding of disabilities among non-disabled people and to create a socially inclusive environment where persons with and without disabilities can participate together. The Damjaengi Walking Festival will be held at Busan APEC Naru Park, and souvenirs will be provided to those who register in advance.

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