Uijeongbu City (Mayor Kim Dong-geun) is creating various barefoot paths in the city center to support citizens’ health promotion and leisure activities. As part of ‘Earthing’, which has recently been gaining attention as a natural healing technique for restoring health, Uijeongbu City is creating paths where people can walk barefoot in various places such as river paths and walking paths, and is receiving great responses from citizens.

[Korean Today] Uijeongbu City, the location of the city’s barefoot paths to protect health © Reporter Eunyoung Kang

The creation of barefoot paths in Uijeongbu City began even before the earth-walking craze began. Under the vision of “Uijeongbu, a city that coexists with the earth,” and “Uijeongbu, a city that people want to walk on,” the city is creating barefoot paths in various forms, including Hwangtotgil, throughout the city. As of now, a total of 12 barefoot paths have been created in Uijeongbu City, 8 of which were created directly by the city.

In order for citizens to freely enjoy walking barefoot along riverside paths, barefoot paths have been created in Jungnangcheon, Buyongcheon, and Minrakcheon. Jungnangcheon’s ‘Barefoot Youth Path’ is made of sand, Minrakcheon’s ‘Hwangtot Path’ and ‘Dong-o Station Hwangtot Barefoot Path’ are made of yellow soil, and Minrakcheon’s Hwangtot Path was recently extended to 700m due to the great response from citizens.

Uijeongbu City also created barefoot paths in parks and green spaces, such as ‘Jikdong Neighborhood Park’ in Hoewon-dong, ‘Songsan Waterside Park’ in Minrak-dong, and ‘Jail Forest Bathing Area’ in Jail-dong, so that citizens can feel nature and practice walking barefoot nearby. In particular, the ‘Sawdust Barefoot Path’ in Jail Forest Bathing Area provides a unique texture by utilizing sand and sawdust.

[Korean Today] Mayor Kim Dong-geun walking with citizens after the completion of the extension of the Minrakcheon Hwangto Road in Uijeongbu © Reporter Kang Eun-young

Mayor Kim Dong-geun said, “I hope that citizens can take care of their health in body and mind even in their busy daily lives by walking barefoot,” and added, “We will continue to do our best to make Uijeongbu a city where citizens can conveniently and safely enjoy walking.” The city plans to analyze the location of the barefoot path and create additional paths so that all citizens can enjoy barefoot paths in various spaces without regional imbalance.

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