How Are People in Seoul Walking Their Way to Better Health?
From red clay trails and city streams to barefoot walks by the sea, a look at Korea’s growing interest in walking for well-being.
In Seoul, a walk in the park can sometimes mean leaving your shoes behind.
Across the city, people are taking off their sneakers and stepping onto red clay trails, forest paths, and even shallow streams. Some walk slowly along carefully maintained trails in public parks. Others prefer the soft sand left behind by retreating waves at the beach.
For some, it is simply a pleasant way to spend time outdoors. For others, barefoot walking has become a daily ritual they believe has changed their lives.
Online communities are full of personal stories about better sleep, fewer headaches, less pain, and a renewed sense of energy. There are also questions about whether barefoot walking is really responsible for these changes—and whether it is safe for everyone.
So, what draws people to these paths? And what can we learn from the way they walk?
The Red Clay Trails That Have People Taking Off Their Shoes
One of the most recognizable forms of barefoot walking in Korea takes place on hwangtot-gil, or red clay walking trails.
These paths can be found in parks and forested areas, including parts of Seoul. Some are designed specifically for barefoot walkers, with moist clay underfoot, nearby washing stations, and places to leave shoes.
The experience is quite different from an ordinary walk on pavement. The ground feels soft and cool, and each step becomes something to pay attention to.
On a rainy morning, a forest trail covered in damp red clay can feel especially inviting. The air is fresh, the trees are green, and the pace is naturally slower.
For people who spend much of their day indoors or surrounded by traffic, this simple change of environment may be part of the attraction.
And for many barefoot walkers, the experience goes beyond the scenery. They believe that walking directly on the earth brings benefits that ordinary exercise cannot quite offer.
“I Finally Slept Well”: Stories Shared by Barefoot Walkers
On Korean online forums, people often describe barefoot walking as something they started out of curiosity—and continued because they felt different afterward.
One woman wrote that she had struggled with poor sleep and frequent headaches. After visiting a forest barefoot trail during a day off, she said her headaches disappeared the following week. She also described sleeping more deeply, waking up feeling refreshed, and having enough energy to tackle household chores she had postponed for years.
Another forum user described a similar change after beginning barefoot walking. Someone who had once been skeptical reportedly continued the practice for more than two years, after which a person close to them noticed that their hair appeared noticeably fuller.
Other posts describe changes in physical comfort, mood, and general well-being.
These are personal accounts, not controlled medical studies. They cannot establish that barefoot walking caused the changes people noticed. Still, they offer a glimpse into why some people become devoted to the practice.
The appeal may not be limited to the contact between bare feet and the earth. Regular movement, time outdoors, a break from daily stress, and the satisfaction of maintaining a routine may all be part of the experience.
The important point is that people are not just talking about walking. They are talking about feeling better—and finding a habit they want to keep.
From Forest Trails to the Shallow Waters of the Sea
Barefoot walking is not limited to Seoul’s red clay paths.
Some people prefer the beach, especially the smooth, damp sand left behind when a wave retreats.
One person who spent two years living on Jeju Island recalled walking barefoot at Iho Tewoo Beach throughout the four seasons. The sand beneath their feet felt like a silk road, bringing a sense of exhilaration and fulfillment.
Even in winter, they said, the experience was not as cold as one might expect. When their feet felt chilly, they briefly stepped into the seawater before continuing their walk.
Others describe walking in shallow seawater as a particularly powerful form of earthing, sometimes calling it “super-ultra earthing.”
The idea is that direct contact with the earth—and, in some versions of the theory, moisture and salt—may enhance the experience. These claims are part of the earthing perspective, however, and should not be confused with established medical findings.
Still, the sensory appeal is easy to understand. The texture of wet sand, the movement of the waves, and the sound of the sea create an experience that is very different from walking along a city sidewalk.
For some, the feeling stays with them long after they return to everyday life. One beach walker described how their body seemed to feel different after a long walk by the sea, even though that feeling gradually faded once they returned to the routines of city living.
Perhaps this is part of the attraction: the hope of bringing a little of that seaside calm into daily life.
A Walk Along Seoul’s Streams
The photograph of Ui-cheon Stream shows people standing and walking in shallow water, surrounded by greenery and pedestrian paths. It captures a different side of the city: a place where urban life and nature meet.
For people who enjoy walking barefoot, a streamside path can offer a change of pace and a chance to feel closer to the natural environment.
Of course, not every stream or riverside path is suitable for barefoot walking. Water quality, slippery surfaces, sharp objects, and local access rules all matter. A place that looks inviting is not automatically a safe place to walk barefoot.
But the broader idea is worth noticing. For some Seoul residents, a walk for well-being does not require a gym membership or an elaborate plan. It can begin with a nearby park, a forest trail, or a quiet stretch of water.
Earthing: What Happens When Our Feet Touch the Ground?
The idea behind barefoot walking is often connected to earthing, also known as grounding.
Supporters of earthing believe that direct contact with the earth’s surface allows the body to connect with the earth’s electrical charge. Some claim that this connection can reduce inflammation and stress, improve circulation, and support better sleep.
A number of doctors and wellness practitioners have promoted earthing, and some published reviews have argued that it deserves further attention.
But the scientific picture remains uncertain.
The Cleveland Clinic notes that research on earthing is limited and that many studies have weaknesses, including small sample sizes and research-design problems. Current evidence is not strong enough to confirm the broad medical benefits sometimes claimed for it.
That does not mean every person who says they feel better after barefoot walking is imagining the experience. It means that the experience itself and the explanation for it are two different questions.
Walking is already a form of physical activity with recognized health benefits. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that physical activity can improve sleep quality and reduce feelings of anxiety.
So, if someone sleeps better after taking regular walks outdoors, that improvement may be real—even if the specific role of electrical contact with the earth has not been established.
For now, it is reasonable to appreciate the experience while remaining careful about claims that go beyond the available evidence.
When Walking Barefoot Is Not the Right Choice
The enthusiasm around barefoot walking does not mean it is suitable for everyone or every environment.
Walking without shoes can expose the feet to cuts, punctures, slippery surfaces, and other hazards. Soil-contaminated wounds can also create a risk of tetanus, a serious infection that can be prevented through vaccination and appropriate wound care.
People with diabetes need particular care. Diabetes can cause nerve damage or reduced blood flow in the feet, making it harder to notice injuries and allowing wounds to heal poorly. The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases advises people with diabetes to protect their feet and avoid walking barefoot.
Anyone with reduced sensation in their feet, circulation problems, a history of foot ulcers, or other foot conditions should seek medical advice before trying barefoot walking.
And there is another important distinction: barefoot walking should not be treated as a substitute for prescribed medical care. A personal account of reduced medication use is not evidence that others can safely stop or reduce their own medication. Changes to treatment should always be discussed with a healthcare professional.
For those who simply want to experience a more natural walking sensation, a barefoot-style shoe may be another option. These shoes are generally designed with flexible, relatively thin soles and more room for the toes. They are not the same as walking directly on the earth, but they may appeal to people who want a different kind of walking experience.
As with barefoot walking itself, it is sensible to start gradually rather than suddenly changing the way you walk.
Finding Your Own Way to Walk
Perhaps the most moving stories about barefoot walking are not really about red clay, seawater, or electrical currents.
They are about people trying to feel better in their own lives.
One account shared on a Korean forum described an older woman who had struggled with several health problems and recurring stomach pain. After beginning daily barefoot walks on a beach, she reportedly experienced changes in her symptoms and health measurements. Her husband eventually joined her, and the two began walking together with the hope of growing older in better health.
The story does not establish that barefoot walking caused those changes. But the image of a couple continuing a daily walk together is meaningful in its own right.
Another person remembers the damp sand of Jeju as a silk road beneath their feet. Someone else finds comfort in a carefully maintained forest trail. And in Seoul, a nearby stream or park may be enough to make an ordinary day feel a little different.
Not everyone needs to walk barefoot. Not everyone will experience the same benefits. And not every health claim surrounding the practice will stand up to scientific scrutiny.
But there is something worth appreciating in the desire to move, spend time outdoors, and find a routine that feels sustainable.
For some people, that routine begins by taking off their shoes and stepping onto the earth.
For others, it may begin with a comfortable pair of walking shoes and a quiet path close to home.
Either way, perhaps the most useful question is not whether everyone should walk barefoot, but how each of us can find a way to walk that fits our body, our surroundings, and our everyday life.
Sometimes, a healthier routine begins with one small step.
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