The picnic culture in South Korea can be traced back to the Joseon dynasty, where the royalty would enjoy grand outdoor banquets. Today, although the tradition may have evolved, the spirit remains the same — delighting in good company and delicious food.

On the 18th May, a 'Picnic Day' event was held to evoke childhood nostalgia for the senior guests who participated at Surim Park in Hoengseong County, Gangwon Province, Republic of Korea.

The event was held by the Wonju Branch of Shincheonji Volunteer Group under the 'Beautiful Seniors' volunteer programme, which promotes a healthy and happy retirement for seniors under the slogan, ‘One beautiful day is wonderful enough.’

According to the Gangwon Provincial Office, Hoengseong County has the highest proportion of the elderly population in the province, and according to resident registration statistics from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as of March of last month, the number of elderly people aged 65 or older in Hoengseong County was estimated to be about 16,200. 

Efforts are being accelerated to improve the quality of mental and physical health of the elderly population.

About 20 members of various Korean War veterans' organisations attended the event, and were treated to a beautiful array of cuisines and various activities including darts, traditional tuho, and a treasure hunt.

Yun-nam Kang (85, female), who attended the picnic, said, “Today was the first treasure hunt in my life and I'm very happy. I went through a lot of hardship during the Korean War as a 11-year-old girl. I'm grateful for the memories made today.”

Tae-kyung Kwon, deputy director of the Wonju branch, said, “Our desire is to create joyful and precious memories like today in memory of the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country,” and added, “We will continue to conduct similar programmes in the future.”