The government posthumously awarded the National Medal of Moran to the late Seong-sook Seo, chairperson of the Jeju Olle Foundation, who passed away in April.
On July 18, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that Minister Choi Hwi-young visited the Jeju Olle Traveler Center in Seogwipo, Jeju, to present the medal to her family on behalf of the government. Seo died at the age of 68 in April.
Born in Seogwipo, Jeju, Seo graduated from Shinsung Girls' High School and the Department of Education at Korea University. She worked as a journalist for magazines such as Madang and Hankookin, and served as the first female editor-in-chief after holding positions as a political reporter and news director at Sisa Journal. She left the media industry in 2006 after serving as the editor-in-chief of the online newspaper OhmyNews.
Returning to her hometown of Jeju, she founded the Jeju Olle Foundation in September 2007 and opened the first course of the Jeju Olle Trail. In 2022, she completed the 27-course Jeju Olle Trail with the opening of the 18-2 course, allowing travelers to explore Jeju solely on foot.
A ministry official stated, "The Jeju Olle Trail has attracted a cumulative total of 13.4 million visitors as of June 2026, making it a representative walking trail in the country. It has significantly contributed to sustainable tourism development by creating an ecological and cultural space where nature, travelers, and local residents coexist harmoniously through walking travel."
The Jeju Olle Trail has also expanded to Japan and Mongolia, evolving into an international walking travel model that connects people, regions, and the world, promoting the value of walking in society.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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