The Korea Tourism Organization will hold a charity bike ride next week to raise funds and awareness of the issues of orphans and sex-trafficking and to promote a newly opened bike path along the Han River.

The KTO bike-a-thon festival will invite cyclists to the two-day event held from Oct. 26-27 along the Han River Ara Canal to participate in a 16-kilometer, 40-kilometer or 80-kilometer bike ride. The festival will also include entertainment activities such as water sports, a K-pop concert and a barbecue.

“We are excited to ride with international bike enthusiasts, tourists and families and to bring some of the world’s most famous cycling adventures to Korea,” said Park Byoung-jik, executive director of the Green Tourism Center of the KTO.

“The cycling tour market is an important one for the Korean tourism industry. With the emergence of an international bike festival like this, cycling tours in Korea are gaining more international exposure and bringing attention to bike paths in this country.”

The festival will donate 500 won (50 cents) per kilometer ridden by participants to two charity organizations ― Oak Tree Projects, which offers scholarships to orphans, and Hope Be Restored, an organization working for freedom and justice in the sex trade.

“We are thrilled to be working with the Korea Tourism Organization to put on such an exciting event,” said Rev. Peter Palma, pastor of World of Life International Fellowship and the founder of Ride Against Traffick, a cycling group that supports Oak Tree Project and Hope Be Restored.

“The Ara Lock Bike Path is a beautiful venue, the Korea Outdoor Barbecue Association chefs will provide a fantastic meal, the entertainment will be enjoyable, and at the end of the day what will give us the greatest joy is that so many people are coming together to help give hope to those in need.”

For more information and registration, visit www.bikefestival.or.kr.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)