By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Can you walk 100 kilometers in a day?
About 270 eager men and women are about to find out. They will participate in an event this Saturday that will push their physical abilities to the limits.
Among them are eight foreign nationals, including one from Luxembourg and six from Japan, said the Korea Walking Federation, Tuesday. Contenders will depart from a stadium in Wonju, Gangwon Province, at 2 p.m., and the race will continue for 24 hours.
"They can sleep within that time period but they must complete the race in 24 hours," a spokesman for the federation said. "It will be quite tough."
The annual event, which made its debut in 2007, is to promote walking as a way to improve health.
The federation hopes to promote a fitter society with sound minds and bodies by continuing to develop various walking festivals, the spokesman said.
The best record, set last year, was 15 hours, followed by 15 hours and 20 minutes.
All successful participants will be given a certificate by the IML Walking Federation, which has regional offices in 25 nations, including South Korea.
"Medical staff and other supporters will follow the contenders during the race in case of any emergency," the spokesman said.