Seo Myeongsuk, Who Left a 437km Trail in Jeju, Posthumously Awarded the National Medal of Moran

Minister Choi Huieyoung Visits Jeju Olle Traveler Center
Presents National Medal of Moran to Bereaved Family

The late Seo Myungsook, Chairman of the Jeju Olle Foundation, who pioneered the Jeju Olle Trail and helped spread the culture of walking tours in Korea, was posthumously awarded the National Medal of Moranjang.

On the 18th, at the Jeju Olle Traveler Center in Seogwipo City, Jeju, Choi Huyeong, Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, presented the National Medal of Moranjang to the bereaved family at the "Late Seo Myeongsuk Jeju Olle Chairman National Medal Presentation Ceremony" and took a commemorative photo together. Photo by Yonhap News

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that on July 18, Minister Choi Huyeong visited the Jeju Olle Traveler Center in Seogwipo City, Jeju, where he presented the posthumous National Medal of Moranjang to Seo's bereaved family. Chairman Seo passed away on April 7 at the age of 68.

The National Medal of Moranjang is the second-highest grade of the National Medal, awarded to individuals with outstanding contributions to public welfare and national development. The government recognized Chairman Seo for her role in creating Jeju Olle, spreading the culture of walking tours, and presenting a sustainable tourism model in which nature and local residents can coexist.

Chairman Seo, a native of Seogwipo, graduated from Korea University's Department of Education and worked as a journalist for over 20 years. She served as a political reporter and news editor at Sisajournal and became the first female chief editor of a Korean weekly current affairs magazine before later becoming Editor-in-Chief at OhmyNews.

The life-changing event for Chairman Seo was her 2006 pilgrimage on Spain's Camino de Santiago. After walking approximately 800 kilometers, she decided to create a path in her hometown of Jeju to connect people, nature, and villages. The following year, she established the Jeju Olle Foundation and opened Jeju Olle Course 1, which runs from Siheung Elementary School in Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo, to Gwangchigi Beach.

Unlike building new roads, Jeju Olle was formed by linking existing coastal trails, Gotjawal forests, stone-walled field paths, and old village roads. Under the principle that tourists, local residents, and nature must coexist, a management system was set up in which locals and volunteers helped create and maintain the trails.

Since the launch of its first course in 2007, Jeju Olle completed a total of 27 courses spanning 437 kilometers across Jeju’s main island and its surrounding islets by 2022. The success of Jeju Olle ignited a nationwide trend of building walking trails and walking tours, with its philosophy and operations later shared internationally in places such as Kyushu, Japan, and Mongolia.

Jeju Olle contributed to the local economy by dispersing tourists from popular attractions to villages, alleys, and small shops. The foundation also ran walking programs and village-based projects for underprivileged groups, such as people with disabilities and youth, to promote inclusive travel culture.

For her contributions, Chairman Seo received various honors, including the Presidential Commendation for Tourism Promotion, Contributor in Tourism Development at the Korea Tourism Star Awards, the National Medal of Dongbaekjang, the Hong Jin-ki Creativity Award, and the Korean Women Leaders Award Grand Prize.

At Seo’s memorial ceremony held in April at Seobok Park on Jeju Olle Course 6, her family, Jeju Olle staff, local residents, and Olle trail enthusiasts gathered to bid her a final farewell.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated, "Chairman Seo was posthumously awarded the National Medal of Moranjang in recognition of her contributions to promoting sustainable tourism, popularizing the walking tour culture through Jeju Olle, and revitalizing local tourism."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.