- Opening ceremony for the “2026 Walking Travel Week” (October 1–11) to be held in Taean, Chungcheongnam-do, on October 1

- Programs and events combining walking, culture, wellness, and regional tourism

The ceremony will be held around Mongsanpo Beach in Taean, where the Seohaerang Trail Course 65 on the Korea Dulle Trail meets the East-West Trail Section 2. Officials from the MCST, the KFS, the KTO, and local governments, along with members of the public, will take part in the ceremony marking the cooperation between the two walking trails and the wider promotion of walking travel. The “Korea Dulle Trail” is Korea’s flagship walking trail, running approximately 4,500 km along the east, west, and south coasts and through the border area. The MCST developed the trail together with relevant ministries and local governments beginning in 2016 and completed the opening of all sections in 2024. The “East-West Trail of Korea” is a forest trail of approximately 850 km stretching from Taean, Chungcheongnam-do, to Uljin, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The KFS began developing the trail in 2023 and plans to open all sections in the second half of 2027.

Applications to take part in the ceremony will be accepted from September 9 to 20 through the walking travel application (app) “Durunubi” and its official website (durunubi.kr), on a first-come, first-served basis for 500 participants. After the ceremony, participants will walk together along an approximately 3 km stretch from the Taean Thalassotherapy Center to Mongsanpo Beach to experience the appeal of walking travel firsthand, and those who complete the walk will receive a completion medal. Detailed event schedules are also available on “Durunubi.”

Plenty to Enjoy Before and After the Walk: A “Walk, Rest, and Heal” Journey in Taean

The ceremony will also present awards to those who have contributed to promoting walking travel. Along the walking route, participants can enjoy street performances for a travel experience that brings together walking, rest, and culture, and, weather permitting, take in the beautiful sunset over the West Sea. After the walk, a “walk, rest, and heal” wellness program will follow. Those applying for the walking event can also make reservations to experience the yoga and singing bowl sound therapy programs at the Taean Thalassotherapy Center. Each program will be offered twice at 30-minute intervals starting at 5:00 p.m., when the sunset can be viewed, with 30 participants per session for a total capacity of 120 participants. The participation fee for the wellness programs is KRW 10,000, discounted from the regular price of KRW 24,000.

“Walking Travel Week” to Offer Enjoyment for Beginners and Enthusiasts Alike Through a Variety of Events

Even after the ceremony, events open to everyone will be held nationwide through October 11, the final day of “Walking Travel Week.” These include “Find It! Kodul Detective,” an online event in which participants view artificial intelligence (AI)-generated scenery from signature “Korea Dulle Trail” courses and guess which courses they depict, and the “Kodul Stamp Challenge,” which allows participants to record their walks using the “Follow” function of the Durunubi app and enter a prize drawing.

In addition, programs that connect walking travel with visits to local communities and local spending will help boost local businesses. Over a total of six days—October 3 to 5 and October 9 to 11—the “Walk and Have a Cup of Coffee” event will offer coffee at nearby local cafés to participants who complete designated Korea Dulle Trail courses. At Korea Dulle Trail rest stops nationwide, a variety of hands-on events for walkers will add to the enjoyment of walking, including the “Oryukdo Safe Walking Road” in Nam-gu, Busan; the “Haeparang Rest Stop Experience” in Dong-gu, Ulsan; and the “Nature Dweller Road” in Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do. Further details are available on the Durunubi website.

Working to Ensure Walking Travel Leads to Regional Tourism and Local Economic Revitalization

KANG Jeong-won, Deputy Minister for Tourism Policy at the MCST, stated, “The ‘Korea Dulle Trail’ and the ‘East-West Trail of Korea’ are Korea’s flagship trails for walking travel, allowing people to fully enjoy every corner of the country on foot.” The Deputy Minister added, “Going forward, the MCST will expand content that allows people to discover and enjoy the appeal of local areas across the various sections of the Korea Dulle Trail, working to ensure that walking travel leads to regional tourism and the revitalization of local economies.”

CHO Young-hee, Director-General of the Forest Welfare Bureau at the KFS, stated, “It is deeply meaningful to jointly mark the start of Walking Travel Week in Taean, where the ‘Korea Dulle Trail’ and the ‘East-West Trail of Korea’ meet.” The Director-General added, “We hope this ceremony will serve as an opportunity for the public to discover the appeal of forest trails in a new way, including the ‘East-West Trail of Korea,’ and for walking travel to become an opportunity for people to visit and stay in local areas.”