On October 28th the Olympic Park in southern Seoul was filled with some two thousand people taking part in a stroller walkathon. The participants pushed strollers as they walked the park lanes lined with colorful fall foliage.

- It’s not easy for mothers to take a walk outside, because of the strollers. They’re bulky and hard to handle without help. So it’s nice to have an event like this, where we can walk together.
- We came from Busan with my parents and my two children, a three-year-old and a six-month-old. It wasn’t easy for us to go out because our children are still very young, but it’s nice to take part in this event. It’s hard to take time out to exercise when I’m working. It’s nice here because I can walk with my family.

This is the second year for the stroller walkathon. The course stretches for five kilometers, inside the Olympic Park. The participants, mostly mothers, take leisurely strolls along the path. It isn’t easy for mothers to take their babies out for a walk, so this event is a perfect opportunity for them to have a family outing and get a workout. Here’s Director Sung Ki-hong of the Korea Walking Association to explain more.

A walking event like the stroller walkathon is quite commonplace in Europe. This walkathon allows young mothers, who usually don’t have the time to exercise, what with babies and chores, to take some time out to work out and communicate with their families. At first, people didn’t think of walking as an exercise, but now they know that walking is directly related to health. So housewives, office workers, and the elderly all walk to slow aging, work out, and become healthy.

Walking is a fad gripping the nation. You can probably see people walking in a neighborhood park or a school field in the morning, in the afternoon, and even late at night. Stores sell sneakers for walking and treadmills made specifically for walking. Some people are even outfitted with trekking gears from head to toe. Here’s Professor Kim Wan-soo of Daegu University’s Department of Health Promotion to tell us more.

In the past Koreans preferred aerobics, dance, or jogging for their workout regime, but starting in the early 2000s, people started to take interest in walking. Koreans began to notice the rapid pace of aging and increase in chronic illnesses, and looked to ways to stay healthy. Walking turned out to be a safe way to maintain health, which started the walking fad in Korea.

Unless you are disabled in some way, walking is an activity that anyone can do, from birth to death. It’s amazing that such an ordinary movement can calm you down emotionally and invigorate you physically.

- I walk because of my health. My view of the world becomes pretty rosy. Walking is the shortcut to longevity. It’s an exercise I can do all my life.
- Walking is like a doctor. If I’m not feeling well, walking doesn’t feel enjoyable. If I enjoy walking, it means I’m healthy. So walking is like a doctor making his diagnosis.

As walking became the hottest outdoor activity in Korea in the last five years, local government bodies began to develop hundreds of walking courses all over the country – Ole Roads in Jeju Island and Dule Roads around Mt. Jiri, to name a couple. Among them, Jeju Ole Roads are the first routes developed for walking. Starting in September 2007, several courses were set up along the Jeju coastlines, each one measuring around 15 kilometers and named after the most prominent geographical features surrounding the courses, like San-gil, meaning mountain road, and Deul-gil, the field road. Now there are twenty regular courses and five alpha courses available for tourists and walkers. Here’s Director Seo Myeong-sook of Jeju Ole.

I wanted to show every nook and cranny of Jeju Island, from the sea to the mountains. That’s what Jejo Ole trekking courses are all about.

The latest and twenty-first one of Ole courses are scheduled to open on 24th of this month, completing the 422-kilometer 26-segment circular path around the island. During 2007, the first year of Jeju Ole walking program, only three thousand visitors came to walk the routes, but the number grew to 787,000 in 2010, when the walking craze spread throughout the nation. Then last year the Ole courses saw 1.09 walkers and 600 thousand already as of June this year. The Jeju Island walking courses have become one of the most visited attractions in Korea.

- I’m so happy now. I shouted out “I’m happy, I’m happy” all the way up the mountain.
- I was stressed out because of my busy life. But now that I’ve learned to let it all go, I feel more at peace.
- We’ve experienced many ups and down during our 20-year marriage. I started walking when I was going through a hard time last year. I found the strength to go on as I experienced reconciliation and healing while walking these courses.

The development of walking courses gave rise to a flood of information on walking in personal blogs and walkers’ groups.

A walkers’ group in Daegu meets twice a month to walk a selected course. There is a reason people join such a group. Here’s Sohn Jeong-yeon, a member of the group.



Walking alone makes you feel more down and isolated. So you tend to get depressed. But when I walk with others, I share my problems with them and realize that those problems are really nothing. So depression goes away and it’s really nice to have heartfelt conversations. Let’s all walk together!

It was back in 2008 when this group was first formed. The group members share their stories and become friends and grow young. Ms. Kang In-joo, who joined the group with her neighbor, says the walking group has changed her life pattern.

I used to drink coffee in the morning with other ladies, but now I walk. A neighbor of mine was a long-time walker and I tagged along with her a couple of times, and now I’m a walker too. My day used to consist of sending my children off to school, watching TV shows, drinking coffee, and taking a nap. But now I walk. I wake up earlier and have a better appetite. My tummy slimmed down a lot from exercising. My goal is to take two inches off my waist. Walking also helps me meet other people and make new friends.

The crisp autumn weather of Korea is perfect for walking, and the fallen leaves make joyful crackling sound whenever people step on them. Walkers are recommended to walk briskly rather than leisurely, because fast-paced walking works up the heart and lungs. Professor Kim Wan-soo of Daegu University’s Department of Health Promotion says walking fast doubles the effect of the workout.

Fast-paced walk is definitely good for your health. The human body is composed of many muscles and an exercise that uses large muscles is better for our body. Walking uses all your major muscle groups - your legs, thigh muscles, and hip muscles, and arms and shoulders. Unlike running, you can keep a pace that allows you to talk. It’s the most effective aerobic exercise for the elderly. Walking helps prevent various illnesses, like senile dementia, stroke, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. It also helps keep diabetes and obesity under control.

The best medicine is walking, said Hippocrates, the father of medicine. He was right, because moving your entire body facilitates breathing and circulation and speeds up your metabolism. However, just walking fast is not the answer. It is best to find the right pace for you. Just taking a leisurely stroll is better than not walking at all.

The sound of dry leaves crackling under the feet delights the ears, and a conversation with fellow walkers makes the time fly by. It’s an energizing, pleasant, and happy activity.

- I realize everyday how walking makes me feel refreshed and energized. It even improved my skin tone and lung capacity. My head becomes clearer, because I breathe in the clean air emitted by the pine trees. I think it will help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Walking competitions take place mostly in spring and fall. The Cheonggyecheon walking race is one of the events held in Seoul.

This year’s Cheonggyecheon race was held on October 21 and attended by roughly two thousand people. The starting point of the walkathon, Seoul Plaza, was bustling with expectant walkers.

- My friends brought their families, so there are three families in total. There aren’t that many things a family can do together, so this is a great opportunity to get together.
- I feel great. I can see the fall maple and gingko leaves. I will finish the race.

The entire walkathon course is ten kilometers. It’s not a short walk, but the participants all start off with enthusiasm.

- Since I’m here with my family, I tend to appreciate my surroundings even more. I plan to talk with my parents while walking and enjoy the weather and the scenery. I’m going to do my best, but I’m going to rest a bit if I get too tired.
- I’m going to finish this race.
- I’ll walk as hard as I can and complete the race. Fighting!

The mountain roads and coastlines of Korea are labeled with pretty names, drawing people from all over the country to enjoy the lovely views and refreshing environment. Even in the city there are “alley tours,” prompting people to walk the narrow back alleys and experience the quaint culture. And it’s no longer strange to see office workers in sneakers walk on their way to and from work and change into their dress shoes in their offices. Walking has become the fashionable thing to do. Walking heals the body and mind, giving us a chance to look deep into ourselves while moving our arms and legs. It is a life activity that will stay with us for a long, long time.