Korea Tourism Organization hosts charity run at Wonju Baramgil Forest

Public institutions and companies in innovation city join as sponsors

Full 22.4 million won to be donated to World Vision

Participants set off at the start of the charity run. [Korea Tourism Organization]
Participants set off at the start of the charity run. [Korea Tourism Organization]

Some 350 runners along a 10-kilometer trail through Wonju's Chiaksan Baramgil Forest raised support for children at risk of going hungry in Gangwon Province, combining local tourism promotion with community giving.

The Korea Tourism Organization announced Monday that it co-hosted the "2026 Wonju Baramgil Forest Charity Run" with the Gangwon Innovation City Development Support Center on Saturday. The organization planned the event to promote Chiaksan Baramgil Forest — one of the region's signature tourism attractions — while fostering a culture of giving alongside efforts to revitalize Gangwon Innovation City.

About 350 participants took part, including residents from outside Wonju as well as local citizens. Runners covered the 10-kilometer course through the forest, taking in nature in the heart of the city. After finishing, many visited the 2026 Innovation Festa held alongside the run, where they sampled Gangwon Province's signature foods and browsed booths run by local small-business owners.

Korea Tourism Organization International Tourism Division head Jeong Seok-in (left) and World Vision Gangwon Regional Office head Shin Jae-kwon at the donation handover ceremony. [Korea Tourism Organization]
Korea Tourism Organization International Tourism Division head Jeong Seok-in (left) and World Vision Gangwon Regional Office head Shin Jae-kwon at the donation handover ceremony. [Korea Tourism Organization]

The 22.4 million won ($16,600) raised through the event will go in full to World Vision's Gangwon regional office to support children in the province at risk of food insecurity. The fund was assembled from participants' entry fees and a contribution from the Korea Tourism Organization, with additional support from Gangwon Innovation City public institutions Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation and Korea Road Traffic Authority, as well as sponsor Seoul F&B.

"We will continue to develop diverse social contribution activities that draw on the region's attractive tourism resources to help innovation cities and local communities grow together," said Jeong Seok-in, head of the Korea Tourism Organization's international tourism division.


terry@heraldcorp.com