[Edaily Reporter Yun Junghoon ] Dosan-daero, Baekbeom-ro, and Maheon-ro—streets we pass by every day without a second thought. The convictions and dedication of Ahn Chang-ho, Kim Gu, and Yoon Bong-gil, embodied in these street names, are being reborn as running routes in our daily lives through artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

SKTelecom(017670)announced on the 10th that it is launching a campaign titled “Remember the 18,776 Independence Activists” to commemorate the 81st anniversary of Liberation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Independence Hall of Korea, inviting people to walk and run in the footsteps of martyrs and patriots.

This campaign involves analyzing the activity records of 18,776 independence activists registered in the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs’ Digital Archives of Meritorious Service using SKT’s proprietary AI foundation model, “A.X K2,” and combining this data with location-based information to create 10 running and walking courses across the country.

From Jongno, Seoul, to Jeju… A total of 44.6 km of routes restored

The routes span a total of 44.6 km across major cities including Seoul, Incheon, Cheonan, and Jeju. Ahead of the route unveiling, SKT CEO Jeong Jae-heon, along with singer Sean, marathon runner Lee Bong-ju, and descendants of independence activists, personally participated as runners, adding further significance to the event.

CEO Jeong Jae-heon and singer Sean ran the “Remember the Women Who Led the Independence Movement” course in Jongno-gu, Seoul, starting at Saemunan Church and completing the route that passed by the site of the Geunwoo Hall and Song Gye-wol’s boarding house before reaching the Open Songhyeon Green Plaza.
Sean stated, “On this route, one can encounter the spirit of the women who stood at the forefront not as someone’s daughter, wife, or mother, but as active participants in the independence movement,” while CEO Jeong added, “I can feel the footsteps of the female independence activists who broke the silence imposed by the times and proudly proclaimed independence.”

Marathon runner Lee Bong-ju, who ran the “Remember the Independence Movement Illuminated by Education” course through the Jung-gu and Jongno-gu districts of Seoul, remarked, “A marathon is completed by those who silently endure for a long time and never give up until the very end,” adding, “Independence was the same.”

In addition, musical actress Hong Ji-min ran the “Remembering the Heroes in School Uniforms” course in Incheon, while Choi Seo-yoon, the great-granddaughter of independence activist Lee Gyo-ok, ran the “Remembering the Flames of Cheonan Manse” course. Videos documenting their journeys will be released on SKT’s official YouTube channel and via the Media Cube at the Independence Hall of Korea.

Public Participation via the “RunDay” App… Events Also Being Held

Members of the public can also participate in the 10 courses nationwide through the mobile running app “RunDay.” SKT is also holding an event where participants who complete the courses or leave encouraging comments on the official YouTube video will be entered into a drawing to win prizes such as tickets to the “2026 Infinite Challenge Run in Gyeongju.”

Lee Seung-yeol, Head of SKT’s Strategic Communications Division, said, “We organized this campaign so that citizens can personally walk and run to remember the 18,776 names recorded in history,” adding, “We will continue our efforts to raise awareness of the legacy of independence activists.”