By Bae Ji-sook
A walkathon — walking marathon — for expatriates will be held on Mt. Nam on Sept. 11 to promote the natural beauty of Seoul and its environment.
Participants in the 2010 Namsan Million-Person Walking Festival will start in front of the Memorial Hall of Patriot Ahn Choong-keun at 10 a.m. and follow a 7.5 kilometer-route around the mountain at the heart of the capital city.
For the elderly or disabled, an easier 3km route alternative is available. Any Seoulite can join, free of charge.
The event, co-hosted by the Seoul city government, The Hankook Ilbo and TBS, is organized to provide expats with the opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and the majestic views of the mountain.
Former Olympic gold medalist marathoner Hwang Young-jo and the newly crowned Miss Korea beauty pageant winners will participate in the event while singers Song Dae-gwan, Jeong Su-ra and Park Sang-cheol will perform in the open concert hosted by TBS.
All participants will get a free drink Seoul Milk and those who complete the course will be given a chance to apply for a lucky draw to win gastric cancer examination vouchers from Seoul National University Hospital. The first 2,500 people who apply online will get a T shirt while another lucky draw event will give away mountain bikes, electronic devices and other fabulous prizes.
Students who volunteer to take care of disabled participants and collect garbage from 9 a.m. will be given a certificate for four hours of volunteering.
The organizers are planning to hold an event of a similar kind on the second Saturdays of October and November for disabled people and multiethnic families. For more information, visit www.seoulwalking.or.kr or call (02) 522-5446~8.