Cycle travel writer Kim Min-sook, who is also an honorary tourism ambassador for Gangwon Province where she was born, and her husband Eric Wehrheim from Germany have launched a recumbent bicycle rental service at Hoengseong Sports Complex in celebration of the 2018 Winter Olympics. (Image: Yonhap)
GANGWON, SOUTH KOREA, May 19 (Korea Bizwire) – A married couple in Gangwon Province is helping promote next year’s PyeongChang Olympics by riding a recumbent bicycle at the 52th Gangwondo Sports For All Festival.
Cycle travel writer Kim Min-sook, who is also an honorary tourism ambassador for Gangwon Province where she was born, and her husband Eric Wehrheim from Germany have launched a recumbent bicycle rental service at Hoengseong Sports Complex in celebration of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Accommodating up to four people, visitors who participate in this year’s Gangwondo Sports for All Festival can ride a recumbent bicycle from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“Previously, we were expecting 70 riders per day, but from the 15th to 17th this week, we saw a daily average of nearly 150 participants. The most important thing is that I was able to help local residents and athletes ride a recumbent bicycle and promote the PyeongChang Olympics as a cycling travel writer,” Kim said.
Apart from the annual sports festival, the couple also runs a hands-on experience program at Gangneung Green City Experience Center every Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. where participants can try riding a recumbent bicycle.
A recumbent bicycle is a particular type on which the rider sits in a laid-back position, distributing their weight all over their body.
Kim and Wehrheim previously received South Korean media coverage when they traveled around South America including Argentina, Peru and Bolivia from last year to earlier this year promoting Gangneung City and the PyeongChang Olympics.
“Previously, we were expecting 70 riders per day, but from the 15th to 17th this week, we saw a daily average of nearly 150 participants. The most important thing is that I was able to help local residents and athletes ride a recumbent bicycle and promote the PyeongChang Olympics as a cycling travel writer,” Kim said. (Image: Yonhap)
Kim graduated from Hangyang University, where she studied the German language. After getting married, she and Wehrheim cycled in 28 countries including Germany, Czech Republic and Italy. She has since published four travel books and held lectures and exhibitions.
“To raise awareness of the PyeongChang Olympics, I decided to run the recumbent bicycle trail event at this year’s Gangwondo Sports for All Festival. I hope all the local residents can work together and prepare for the Winter Olympics next year,” Kim said.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
