○ Gyeonggi Province to open all 60 courses of the 860-kilometer-long Gyeonggi Dulegil (Trails), encompassing 15 cities and counties, on November 15
– Gyeonggi has been connecting trails for three years since establishment of master plan in 2018
– In 2019, trail routes were finalized, reflecting basic principles of route creation and opinions of private advisory bodies
– In 2020, comprehensive brand and character of Gyeonggi Dulegil, which people hike together to become one, were developed
– Pilot section was temporarily opened in September this year; province developed official website and completed final inspection of entire trail network at end of October

○ Various pre-opening events and promotional campaigns launched, such as litter collection and walking campaigns

○ From 2022, provincial government will form representative walking trails in Gyeonggi that connect all corners of province; will develop trails as comprehensive Gyeonggi Province brand

On November 15, all sections of Gyeonggi Dulegil, an 860-kilometer-long trail network that connects the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province and offers access to beautiful natural scenery throughout the province as well as its ecology, culture and history, were opened.

The trails were formed by connecting existing forest paths, village roads, riverside walks, and streets along river banks throughout 15 cities and counties of the province in order to create an ideal walking network that encompasses Gyeonggi Province. Following the establishment of the master plan in November 2018, it only took three years for the province to complete the trails.

Gyeonggi Province finalized trail routes (a total of 860 kilometers, 60 courses) in 2019 by reflecting the basic principles of route creation and the opinions of private advisory bodies while putting user safety first. The basic principles considered for trail routes are: easy accessibility by road and public transportation, presence of various sights and changing vistas, and a continuous trail network without any broken routes.

Last year, Gyeonggi Province also created the Gyeonggi Dulegil brand with the slogan ‘Hiking Together as One’ and a character embodying a line that connects all corners of the province. The design was also incorporated into information/direction signs, ribbons, and forest-style milestones during the development stage of the trails.

Gyeonggi Province started full-fledged repair work this year including trail surface maintenance and temporary information systems, and opened the 340-kilometer-long pilot course (from Daemyeonghang Port in Gimpo City to Seorak Terminal in Gapyeong County) in September.

Following the opening of the pilot course, Gyeonggi Province developed the official Gyeonggi Dulegil website (gg.go.kr/dulegil) to provide comprehensive information on all courses, detailed features of individual courses, and tourism resources of the trails. Additionally, it launched pre-opening events on its social media accounts from October 21. From November 17, a ‘ploking’ campaign, an eco-friendly activity in which people pick up litter while walking, will be launched at major courses in each region (cities of Gimpo, Pocheon, Yeoju, and Ansan).

Gyeonggi Province plans to continue its efforts to ensure the operational sustainability and stability of the trails even after the official opening, including the development of activities and programs that promote the beautiful natural landscapes, historic sites and cultural tourism resources along the trails. Of particular note, Gyeonggi Province will engage research service providers to link the trails that connect the outskirts of the province with the Old Gyeonggi Road (Gyeonggiyetgil), and regionally themed streets (e.g. Silhak Scholar Street, Namhansanseong Fortress, etc.) so that the trails can be enjoyed throughout the province.

Choi Yong-hun, Director of the Tourism Division of Gyeonggi Province, said, “In this contactless age, walking tours have become a general travel trend that promote healing and quality of life. The four regional sections of Gyeonggi Dulegil will feature various aspects of Gyeonggi Province that people have never experienced before. We are going to develop this as a comprehensive Gyeonggi brand by forming a representative hiking trail network that connects every region of Gyeonggi Province beyond the 15 cities and counties that we have connected so far.”

□ Here is how you can enjoy Gyeonggi Dulegil to the fullest:

Gyeonggi Dulegil is divided into four regional sections: Pyeonghwa Nurigil (Gimpo – Yeoncheon, 186 km), Forest Path (Yeoncheon – Yangpyeong, 245 km), Mulgil (Yeoju – Anseong, 167 km), and Gaetgil (Pyeongtaek – Bucheon, 262 km).

You can find information on the distances, estimated hiking times, and difficulty levels of the 60 courses (e.g. Gimpo Course 1: 13.6 kilometers, 245 minutes, very easy) on the official Gyeonggi Dulegil website. Except for nine national trails, you can select and enjoy any course without prior reservation. Along the trail courses, visitors can enjoy other trails favored by residents of Gyeonggi Province, including the Yeoju River Trail (Yeogang-gil) in Yeoju City, Jusanjeolri-gil in Pocheon City, and Park Du-jin Literature Street (Munhak-gil) in Anseong City, as well as tourist attractions such as Sanjeong Lake, Yongchu Valley, Pyeongtaekhyanggyo (a local Confucian school), Gungpyeonghang Port, and the Gogang Prehistoric Relics Park.

Gyeonggi Province strongly recommends that visitors carry light bags and wear comfortable shoes as the long-distance courses typically take over two hours to complete. If you are unsure about directions for Gyeonggi Dulegil, you can check the ribbons, arrows and signboards installed along the trails.

Trail stamps can be collected at the starting and finishing points of each course. Visit the official Gyeonggi Dulegil website (gg.go.kr/dulegil) for detailed information on individual courses and other general information.