S. Korea to open nation's longest walking trail

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will fully open its longest walking trail, the Korea Dulle Trail, on Monday, marking a significant milestone in the country's efforts to boost local tourism.

The 4,500-kilometer route encircles the country's coastlines and extends to border areas within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas.

The trail has been under development since 2009, led by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with several other government ministries, including the interior, defense and unification ministries.

The trail's final section, the DMZ Peace Trail, has recently been completed, allowing the entire route to open for public use.

A ceremony to celebrate the occasion will be held in the afternoon at the Goseong Unification Observatory, the northernmost observatory in South Korea and the trail's concluding point.

Yong Ho-seong, the first vice minister of culture, sports and tourism, expressed the government's commitment to working closely with local governments and municipalities to establish the Korea Dulle Trail as a major tourist destination.

"We also aim to make this trail a world-class attraction comparable to renowned walking trails in other countries," Yong said in a press release.

For more information on the trail, visit the government-run website (www.durunubi.kr) and the Durunubi mobile app.

sshim@yna.co.kr
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