Walking Along the Coast of Jeju

The 2026 KINGO WALKATHON took place across Jeju Island over 6 nights and 7 days, from Wednesday, July 8 to Tuesday, July 14. This year's event brought together 107 SKKU students, who walked approximately 140km along the coast of Jeju, building a spirit of challenge and a sense of community.

 * The name "Kingo" is the university's school title (校號); the most widely accepted theory traces its origin to the historical fact that during the Joseon Dynasty, the King (King) frequently visited (Go) Sungkyunkwan, the royal educational institution. Another theory holds that it derives from a modification of the English name of the gingko tree, our university's symbolic tree.

The 2026 KINGO WALKATHON began in the area of Iho Tewoo Beach and centered on a coastal course through Jeju's western and southern regions, passing through Aewol, Hallim, Hangyeong, Daejeong, Andeok, Jungmun, Seogwipo, and Namwon. Participants walked the daily courses in sequence, experiencing Jeju's natural and cultural resources.

The event was hosted by the university and organized by the Student Council as a student-led program. It began with an opening ceremony on the first day and included a range of programs, including a coastal cleanup around Geumneung Beach, a campfire, an exchange with a visiting delegation led by the President offering encouragement to participants, and team talent shows.

This year in particular, the event went beyond a simple long-distance walk to add meaning as a program for learning shared responsibility toward the environment and local communities. Participants carried out coastal cleanup activities around Geumneung Beach and directly experienced Jeju's ecological and coastal landscapes—including the Jeju Geological Trail course, Hayeong Olle, Bomok Port, and Haehyo Port—reflecting on the value of community-based action.

To ensure the safe operation of the event, the university divided responsibilities among a field team and an operations team, and managed participants in nine groups. The walking procession moved together with a lead vehicle, group members, and an ambulance, and a response system was established so that in the event of an injury, participants could be immediately transported by ambulance or university vehicle based on the field team's judgment.

Lee Jun-sang, Vice President of Student Affairs, said, "The KINGO WALKATHON is a journey in which students carry forward our university's spirit of innovation, which has continually taken on new paths throughout Sungkyunkwan's 600-year tradition." He added, "We will work closely with the Student Council to actively support students so that they can learn, step by step, the joy of surpassing themselves and building something together, and complete the walk safely."

Lee Jae-hong and Lee Sang-su, Co-Presidents of the Student Council of SKKU, said, "Even in the sweltering heat, we carefully prepared the course, rest stops, safety management, and evening programs so that students could support one another as they walked." They added, "We hope the KINGO WALKATHON becomes a moment of youth that all participants will remember for a long time."

Students who took part in the 2026 KINGO WALKATHON concluded their 6-night, 7-day journey with a closing ceremony on Tuesday, July 14, at the Kumho Jeju Resort. Based on the experience of walking and learning together along the coast of Jeju, participants are expected to grow into stronger, more responsible members of the Sungkyunkwan community.