광복 81주년 맞아 SKT·독립기념관 공동 캠페인 ― 선열이 딛고 일어난 길, 후손이 뛰는 “기억하길” 코스로 되살아나다

SK Telecom (CEO Jeong Jae-heon) and the National Memorial Hall, with support from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, unveiled a campaign on August 10 to create 10 walking and running routes across South Korea based on the footsteps of 18,776 independence activists. The routes, totaling 44.6 kilometers, were developed using SKT’s AI model ‘A.X K2’ to analyze historical records from the Patriots and Veterans Affairs’ digital archives. Each route connects key locations tied to independence movements in major cities from Seoul to Jeju.

The campaign includes a promotional video featuring CEO Jeong Jae-heon, singer Sean, marathoner Lee Bong-joo, and descendants of independence activists running the routes. The video, released on SKT’s YouTube channel on August 8, begins with the Seoul Jongno route titled ‘Remembering Women Who Led Independence.’ Participants highlighted the significance of the routes as more than physical paths, emphasizing their role in commemorating the sacrifices of activists who fought for national sovereignty.

General citizens can participate by using the ‘RunDay’ running app to walk or run the 10 designated routes. SKT will also reward participants through a lottery, offering tickets to the ‘2026 Infinite Challenge Run in Gyeongju’ for those who complete the routes or leave supportive comments on the campaign video. The routes and video will also be showcased at the National Memorial Hall’s Media Cube for one month.

SKT’s Strategy Communication Head Lee Seung-yeol stated the campaign aims to help citizens directly engage with the legacy of independence activists by walking or running the routes, adding that the company plans to continue activities to raise awareness of their contributions. The initiative aligns with the 81st anniversary of Korea’s Liberation Day on August 15.