Gangnam-gu has announced that it will operate the community-based environmental improvement campaign ‘Gangnam, Plockin’ program from September to October.
Plockin is a compound word of the Swedish ‘Plocka upp’ (to pick up) and the English ‘Walking,’ and it refers to an environmental cleanup activity that involves picking up litter while walking. It is similar to the known ‘Plogging,’ but with less physical strain, allowing anyone to participate easily.
In the first half of the year (May-June), a total of 142 people took part in the program. Participant satisfaction was rated at 9.2 out of 10.
Besides simple walking, participants were educated about proper walking posture and the importance of health.
In the second half, the target participants will be expanded to include local groups and businesses to promote communal participation.
The program will run every Saturday from 9 AM to 11 AM over a 6km course.
The schedule starts at the Gangnam Health Center area on September 6, followed by Apgujeong Interchange on September 13, Cheongdam Station area on September 20, Dogok Neighborhood Park on September 27, Daemosan on October 18, and Yangjaecheon area on October 25.
Participants will travel along designated walking routes, collecting trash along the way, and separating recycling from general waste on site.
Volunteer hours are recognized for participants, and families can join as well.
Registration is available through the integrated reservation system on the Gangnam Health Center website. Event schedule links will be sent to applicants via KakaoTalk.
Those who complete all events will be offered a chance to participate in the 4th Health Walking Experience Education event and receive various benefits.
Jo Seong-myeong, head of Gangnam-gu, stated, “The charm of this program is that you can protect the environment while enjoying a leisurely walk like a stroll.”
