District designates the 11th of each month as 'Jungnang Walking Day' to build a community walking culture; themed walking challenges tied to local landmarks also planned
Jungnang-gu District Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi has launched an initiative to make the Seoul district a more walkable city alongside its residents.
The district held its "Jungnang Walking Day" challenge Wednesday, drawing about 350 residents to Bongsudae Park and the Bonghwasan Donghaenggil trail.
Jungnang Walking Day designates the 11th of each month as a community walking day, bringing residents together to explore the district's scenic paths, look after their health and connect with neighbors. The program was created to help people follow through on walking — an activity easy to put off alone — and to establish it as a consistent healthy habit in daily life.
Participants gathered at the Bongsudae Park lawn at 10 a.m. and walked the Bonghwasan Donghaenggil trail to the summit. They took in the autumn forest paths while chatting with neighbors and experiencing one of the district's most popular walking spots firsthand.
Beyond the monthly event, the district also runs a residents' walking club. It has linked the program with Sonmok Doctor 9988 — a wearable-device health initiative — to organize themed walking challenges that blend local landmarks with everyday culture, including a traditional market walking tour and a walk along the Yongmasan Skywalk, encouraging broader resident participation.
The efforts have translated into measurable results. Jungnang-gu recorded a walking practice rate of 77.7 percent in the 2025 Community Health Survey, ranking first nationwide.
The district plans to connect a range of walking programs to the 21-kilometer Jungnang Donghaenggil trail network, supporting residents in maintaining a walking routine close to home in whatever way suits them best.
"I hope this becomes an opportunity for residents to share the joy of walking with their neighbors and to make more frequent use of the Donghaenggil trails near their homes," District Mayor Ryu said. "We will continue to build a walking-friendly environment and offer diverse walking programs so that residents can consistently make walking part of their daily lives."
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