Why You Can’t Miss the 2026 Wando Barefoot Walking Festival: Free Healing Experiences Await!

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[Inews24 reporter Han Seung-yeop] Wando County in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, will host the 2026 2nd National Barefoot Walking Festival for Marine Healing, Wando on May 2 at 1 p.m. at the Sinji Myeongsasipri Beach area.

This is the festival’s second year. It offers a fresh marine-and-forest healing experience: walk barefoot on the soft sandy paths and through ocher forest trails to soothe both body and mind.

This year’s route covers roughly 5.2 km (about 3.2 miles) of beach and forest trails and features a lineup of lively programs. Highlights include △beach busking △trampoline and air-walking ball experiences △a forest healing reading zone, plus other Wando-specific healing activities.

The festival also includes a marine healing experience zone. From May 2–3, visitors can try beachfront yoga, singing-bowl meditation, aromatherapy, and healing foot baths at the Sinji Myeongsasipri Marine Climate Healing Center.

Participation is free. You can register in advance via the QR code or sign up on site the day of the event.

First held last year, the festival boosted Wando’s marine-healing profile and drew tourists. More than 60% of participants came from outside the region, which helped stimulate the local economy. Overall attendee satisfaction was high.

A Wando County official said, “We prepared richer and more varied programs than last year,” and added, “We plan to make the barefoot walking festival an annual event and develop it into a premier marine-healing tourism attraction for Wando.”