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A Step for All: The 13th Ivy Walking Festival to Be Held

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Busan Metropolitan City announced that, in celebration of the Day of Persons with Disabilities (April 20), “The 13th Ivy Walking Festival” will be held tomorrow (April 18) at 9:00 a.m. at Hwamyeong Ecological Park.

This event is hosted by the Busan Association of Welfare Centers for the Disabled, an association of 17 welfare centers for persons with disabilities in the Busan region (Chair Lee Seung-hee), and the Busan Cerebral Palsy Welfare Center (Director Lee Ju-eun), with sponsorship from Busan Metropolitan City and Buk-gu.

This year’s walking event is expected to attract approximately 2,000 participants, including 1,700 pre-registered individuals and 300 on-site applicants.

Held under the slogan “STEP FOR ALL: A Step for All,” the Ivy Walking Festival has been continuously organized since 2014 to promote communication between persons with and without disabilities, enhance understanding of disabilities, and foster an inclusive social environment.

The name of the event is inspired by the characteristics of ivy vines, which lead thousands of leaves together to climb over walls. Here, the “wall” symbolizes exclusion and separation, conveying the meaning of overcoming these barriers together by persons with and without disabilities.

The event will begin with a performance by an orchestra composed of persons with disabilities and a magic show, followed by a commemorative ceremony, an opening performance, and the walking event.

In addition, a variety of programs will be offered, including experience booths, social media hashtag events, photo zones, hands-on experiences with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) assistive devices, disability awareness quizzes, prize drawings, and souvenir distribution, providing participants with diverse entertainment.

This year’s walking course will take place around the lotus complex at Hwamyeong Ecological Park in Buk-gu.

Participants will start from the event venue at Hwamyeong Ecological Park, pass through the lotus complex, and return to the starting point, covering a total distance of 1.6 kilometers, which takes approximately 40 minutes to complete.

All Busan citizens are welcome to participate, and those who have not registered in advance may apply on-site on the day of the event (April 18) between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

For further inquiries, please contact the Busan Cerebral Palsy Welfare Center at 051-333-3888.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “Through the 13th Ivy Walking Festival, where persons with and without disabilities come together, I hope all Busan citizens will deepen their understanding of disabilities and reflect on the meaning of taking a step for all. We will continue to do our best to create a warm city where no one is left behind and a safe and inclusive Busan for everyone.”