Suwon Resident Becomes First Completer of Gyeonggi Loop Path After Full Opening of 860km Trail

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] The first completer of the Gyeonggi Loop Path, an 860km pedestrian trail connecting the outer ring of Gyeonggi Province, has emerged following the trail's full opening. The completer is a Suwon resident.

Lee Seok-beom, director of the Gyeonggi Province Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, recently presented completion certificates and commemorative gifts directly to Suwon-ji (73, Suwon) and Lee Kwan-pyo (65, Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province), both completers of the Gyeonggi Loop Path, at the provincial government office.

The Gyeonggi Loop Path is a pedestrian travel route that connects existing paths—forest paths, village roads, riverside paths, and embankment paths—that were previously fragmented across 15 cities and counties, creating a circular route around Gyeonggi Province. Following a trial opening of 340km (from Daemyeong Port in Gimpo to Seolak Terminal in Gapyeong) at the end of September last year, the entire route opened on November 15.

Suwon-ji and Lee Kwan-pyo were recognized as completers by authenticating all 120 stamps (from 60 course starting and ending points) in stamp books provided free of charge by the province.

Completers receive a certificate authenticated by the Gyeonggi Province governor and regional completion commemorative gifts including four character figurines (Nuri, Nubi, Ara, Yeondu) and a full-route completion commemorative silver coin engraved with a serial number.

Suwon-ji is an avid walking enthusiast whose annual goal is to walk 3,000km, and has completed most long-distance walking trails in Korea. He became interested after hearing about the Gyeonggi Loop Path construction plan in 2018.

Starting on October 31 last year at the beginning of the trial opening period, he spent 49 days on the loop path and became the first to complete it on January 20 of this year.

Lee Kwan-pyo, who traveled the Spanish Santiago de Compostela trail and Jeju Olle Trail with his wife Han Yeon-ok, is the second completer.

The couple walked the loop path over 27 days between October 2 last year and January 22 of this year to complete it.

Lee said that on courses including government-owned forest roads in areas such as Yangpyeong and Gapyeong, he could experience unpaved natural dirt paths firsthand, and found it especially memorable to collect stamps designed with regional specialties and tourist attractions.

The province anticipates a sharp increase in trail users as spring arrives following winter and is revising and supplementing guidemaps. It also plans to strengthen operational and management systems including improvements to guidance systems and course maintenance.

Lee Seok-beom, director of the Gyeonggi Province Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, stated, "I offer congratulations and gratitude to those who have completed the 860km Gyeonggi Loop Path journey," and added, "We will do our utmost to ensure that footprints of walkers not only from Gyeonggi Province but from across the country remain on the Gyeonggi Loop Path, serving as a foundation for regional tourism industry development and contributing to job creation and increased resident income."

Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi Loop Path consists of four regions: the Pyeonghwa Nuri Trail featuring beautifully swaying reeds in the wind, the Gyeonggi Forest Trail overlooking late autumn foliage and fallen leaves, the Gyeonggi Water Trail offering cool river breezes, and the Gyeonggi Coast Trail full of sea scent.

Except for nine government-owned forest road sections, visitors can walk any course that suits them without advance reservation.

Along these paths, visitors can enjoy walking trails that have attracted residents' attention, such as the Pocheon Columnar Jointing Trail and the An-seong Park Du-jin Literature Trail, as well as tourist attractions including Sanjeong Lake, Yongchu Valley, Pyeongtak Hyanggyo, Gunpyeong Port, and Gogang Seonsa Ruins Park.

To collect stamps on the loop path, visitors simply get stamps at the starting and ending points of each course.

For detailed course information and other information about using the loop path, visitors can refer to the Gyeonggi Loop Path website (gg.go.kr/dulegil).