Busan is good

A Step for All: The 12th “Ivy Walking Festival” to Be Held

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The Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will host the 12th Ivy Walking Festival at 9:00 AM on Friday, April 19, at Dadaepo Beach Park (located in Saha-gu) to commemorate the Day of Persons with Disabilities on April 20.

Themed “A STEP FOR ALL,” the festival symbolizes that even a single step can spark meaningful change for everyone. The event is co-hosted by the Busan Council of Welfare Centers for the Disabled — a coalition of 17 disability welfare centers (Chairperson: Lee Seung-hee) — and the Saha-gu Welfare Center for the Disabled, with support from Busan Metropolitan City and Saha-gu.

The walking course spans 2.1 kilometers, beginning at Blue Plaza, continuing through Sunset Fountain, Noeuljeong Pavilion, and the Eco Trail, before circling back to the starting point. The entire walk is expected to take around one hour.

The festival program will begin with a Nanta performance by the Busan Welfare Center for the Visually Impaired and a line dance performance by the Hanam Line Dance Team, followed by an official ceremony, an opening performance, and the main walking event.

Additional attractions include:

• ●A final performance by the group "Happiness"

• ●A quiz on disability awareness

• ●Prize giveaways

• ●Ivy-themed temporary tattoo experiences

• ●Sign language keyring crafts

• ●Social media hashtag events

• ●Photo zones

• ●An AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) experience booth, which introduces communication methods using pictures, symbols, or assistive devices for individuals who have difficulty with verbal or written communication.

The event is open to all Busan residents, and those who have not registered in advance may sign up on-site from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM on the day of the event (April 19).
For more information, contact the Saha-gu Welfare Center for the Disabled at 051-262-2461.

Since its launch in 2014, the Ivy Walking Festival has served as a platform for communication and inclusion between people with and without disabilities, promoting understanding and social integration.

The name “Ivy” was inspired by the nature of ivy vines, which overcome walls by climbing together with countless leaves. Here, the “wall” symbolizes exclusion and division — and the festival represents a shared effort to overcome those barriers.

Jung Tae-gi, Director of Busan’s Social Welfare Bureau, stated:

“The Ivy Walking Festival, held in celebration of the Day of Persons with Disabilities, is a meaningful event where people with and without disabilities walk side by side, embracing their differences and encouraging one another.
Going forward, we will actively promote policies that enhance welfare and awareness, to create an inclusive city where everyone can live together without discrimination.”