Seoul to open downtown roads for 2026 'Walk Seoul' festival, seeking 5,000 participants

The 14th Walk Seoul Festival, the city's signature autumn walking event, is expanding this year into a downtown health festival that will also let participants check their physical fitness.

Participants can stroll through car-free city streets with family, take in the sights of Seoul, then stop at Gwanghwamun Square for the "Seoul Fitness Check" program, where they can assess their fitness levels and receive wellness guidance.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday it will open online registration for the Sept. 20 event starting Monday at 10 a.m. on the festival's official website, accepting the first 5,000 applicants.

Launched in 2014, the Walk Seoul Festival temporarily opens downtown roads normally reserved for vehicles, offering residents a unique experience of walking through the heart of the city and celebrating urban health culture. Last year, about 5,000 people took part in the 4.4-kilometer stretch from Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) to Gwanghwamun Square.

This year's route follows the same approximately 4.4-kilometer course, starting at DDP and passing through Ihwa Intersection, Yulgok Tunnel and Gyeongbokgung Intersection before ending at Gwanghwamun Square. The event is a non-competitive parade open to everyone — children, seniors, families, friends and couples — and participation is free.

A range of programs will be on offer along the route. In the Yulgok Tunnel section, organizers will stage a special light-and-media installation to give walkers a distinctive visual experience as they pass through.

At the finish line in Gwanghwamun Square, participants can enjoy celebratory performances and take part in the "Seoul Fitness Check," the city's flagship health-promotion program. After completing the walk, participants can measure their fitness levels on the spot and receive personalized health advice.

Yeo Jang-gwon, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's transportation bureau, said he hoped the event would be "a meaningful time to share health and joy with family, friends and neighbors," and urged residents to sign up.