Annual Walking Festival Offers a Chance to Indulge in Autumnal Fun

Seoul's annual walking festival, in which participants walk along a route dotted with landmarks in the capital's downtown district while enjoying the autumnal weather, will be held next month.

Co-sponsored by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Chosun Ilbo, this year's festival is the 10th of its kind and will be held on Sept. 17. Anybody is welcome to participate.

This year's walking course covers a distance of 6 km, 1.6 km longer than last year's, with the addition of the outer perimeter of Gyeongbok Palace. Participants will start at Dongdaemun Design Plaza at 8 a.m. and end their walking journey at Gwanhwamun Plaza.

Many programs and events along the route will amuse them, while supporters will cheer them from the roadside.

Various performances and fun activities such as break dancing and magic shows will be staged in the finish-line area in Gwanghwamun Plaza for about an hour from 9:15 a.m. There will be several photo zones, where people can print out messages and take selfies with Polaroid cameras.

For participants' safety, parts of the road along the walking route will be closed to vehicles and pedestrian traffic.