Promotional banner with the slogan ‘Tour of Korea with Kakao’ | Image provided by Kakao
Kakao (CEO Shina Chung) recently announced the launch of the ‘Tour of Korea Challenge’ campaign, celebrating the complete opening of the Korea Dulle Trail. This initiative promotes low-carbon travel and aims to revitalize local economies.
The Korea Dulle Trail was designed to connect the edges of the Korean Peninsula. After the opening of the East Sea’s Haeparang Trail in 2016, the South Sea’s Namparang Trail in 2020, and the West Sea’s Seohaerang Trail in 2022, the final section, the DMZ Peace Trail, was completed on September 23, 2024.
The ‘Tour of Korea Challenge’ invites participants to walk selected sections of the 4,500km trail, the longest trail course in Korea, created by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization. The challenge runs from October 1 to November 30, during which participants walk and certify their progress.
Kakao, the main organizer of the challenge, has been actively promoting the Korea Dulle Trail since signing a partnership agreement with the Korea Tourism Organization in April. By September 1, they had recruited 45 challengers aged 20 to 60, each with unique stories and motivations, such as a firefighter walking on their days off, a mother hoping to celebrate her son’s military service, and an adventurer who has previously climbed the Himalayas.
One participant shared, “I plan to propose to my girlfriend while walking the Korea Dulle Trail in her hometown, Jangheung.” Another senior participant said, “I want to gain confidence in my second life chapter by completing the Korea Dulle Trail.” Another veteran hiker, who has completed the Haeparang, Namparang, and Seohaerang Trails, expressed their determination to “walk the final piece, the DMZ Peace Trail, and be the first to complete the full Korea Dulle Trail.”
Starting on the 26th, Kakao will display the challengers’ profiles on the official Tour of Korea Challenge page, including their nicknames, ages, and completion goals. Visitors can support the participants by leaving encouraging comments or pressing the cheer button.
Kakao is also running an event called “Find the Perfect Korea Dulle Trail for You” to engage the wider public. The event uses a preference test to recommend one of the trail’s 45 routes based on users’ responses. Participants can also receive a digital card featuring a scenic view of the recommended trail through the KakaoTalk Wallet.
Kakao CA Council’s ESG Chairman, Daeyeol Kwon, expressed gratitude, saying, “We sincerely thank everyone who applied and participated. Kakao will continue to work hard to ensure that the Korea Dulle Trail becomes a tourist destination everyone can enjoy while contributing to the local economy.”
Pangyo Techno Valley is a global integrated R&D hub focused on IT, BT, CT, and NT, integrating Research (R), People (P), Information (I), and Trade (T). As Gyeonggi-do’s representative innovation cluster, Pangyo Techno Valley was established to secure national new growth drivers such as technological innovation, human resource development, job creation, and enhancing international business competitiveness. As of 2023, 1,666 companies employ 78,751 people, and it has positioned itself as the most innovative hub in South Korea, with sales amounting to 167.7 trillion KRW (125.5 billion USD).
Furthermore, the Techno Valley Innovation Division of the Gyeonggi-do Business & Science Accelerator (GBSA) holds monthly events such as the Pangyo Evening Meet-Up, Pan-Pan Day, and the Pangyo Startup Investment Exchange “In-Best Pangyo” to maximize the value of Pangyo Techno Valley. They also support the Pangyo Overseas Promotion Program to publicize information about Pangyo’s companies, products, and services to domestic and foreign investors and the media, thereby facilitating foreign investment.
