How can we protect our nature when we take care of ourselves? The answer is PLOGGING! Here's how South Korea leads the trend.
What is Plogging?
Recently, more and more people are exercising to take care of themselves, and many are turning to activities, such as jogging, that do not require special exercise equipment. At the same time, there is a growing movement that combines jogging and environmentally-friendly actions. It is called plogging. Plogging, the sport of picking up trash while jogging, is a combination of the Swedish phrase plocka upp (pick up) and jogging. Plogging, which first began in Sweden, was often described as a new sport for Swedish residents. In northern Europe with the wintry weather, many say there is no better daily exercise than this.
Recently, the plogging movement has been spreading to nations around the world such as France, Iceland, and the United States, among many others. Of particular note, Iceland President Guidni Johansson has also joined the plogging campaign and is pursuing this activity near his residence.
Plogging can have two positive outcomes: environmental protection and exercise. In particular, it is effective in burning calories through a cardio workout while picking up trash. Ploggers also post related images with hashtags such as #Plogging #1run1waste after exercising, which encourages others who see the posts to become interested in plogging themselves. The participants are active in all places. Starting with a walk along a mountain trail or riverside, one can encounter many people who are also on plogging missions.
Plogging in Gyeonggi
Although the plogging movement is growing around the world, it is still not well known in Korea. A growing number of local governments in Gyeonggi Province, however, are implementing plogging campaigns.Suwon City, the capital of Gyeonggi Province, held a plogging event in December 2019 in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Labor and Fitness Play. Under the guidance of Fitness Play instructors, they successfully held this event in which they instructed members of the public on how to pick up trash while using lunge postures and effective jogging techniques.
 |
| Many cities in Gyeonggi Province has been leading the plogging movement, encouraging residents to participate ⓒGyeonggi Province |
In Pocheon City, the Soheul-eup Welfare Center and the Gomo 3-ri Town Association held a “Plogging Day” event on the Dulegil-gil of Gomo Lake Park last June. The event was geared to alleviate public exhaustion from the ongoing pandemic while also simultaneously protecting their health and the environment.
In April, Uiwang City launched the “With-Your-Own-Feet Challenge” with residents participating in this promotional event through to December. The Relay Challenge for companies and organizations ran until June.
 |
| Residents in Uiwang City has been participating in the with-your-own-feet challenge through the year ⓒGyeonggi Province |
Residents who posted photos of their participation in plogging and climate-preservation activities (leaving no leftovers, packing food in personal containers) on the website of the Uiwang Sustainable Development Council became eligible to receive certain souvenirs.
Meanwhile, Namyangju City has selected 1,400 people to participate in neighborhood plogging teams since March 19, and recently recruited additional teams to represent various communities. In March, members of the Yangju Facilities Management Corporation's organization “Clean GO!” also gathered and conducted a plogging campaign on a walkway near Cho So-ang's Memorial Hall.
COMMENTS