Suh Myung Sook
Suh Myung Sook | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 23, 1957 Seogwipo, Jeju Province, South Korea |
| Died | April 7, 2026 (aged 68) Seogwipo, Jeju Province, South Korea |
| Known for | Creating the Jeju Olle Trail |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 서명숙 |
| Hanja | 徐明淑 [1] |
| RR | Seo Myeongsuk |
| MR | Sŏ Myŏngsuk |
Suh Myung Sook[2] (Korean: 서명숙; October 23, 1957 – April 7, 2026) was a South Korean journalist and founder of the Jeju Olle Trail. After working as the editor-in-chief of Sisa Journal and OhmyNews, she resigned and founded the Jeju Olle Foundation in 2007. Her work had a big influence on the economy of Jeju Province and inspired the creation of similar trails in other countries.
Biography
Suh was born in Seogwipo, Jeju Province, South Korea on October 23, 1957.[3] Her father was a North Korean defector from Musan County who deserted from the Korean People's Army and eventually settled on Jeju Island. Suh Myung Sook had two brothers. Her mother ran a store in the Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market.[4] She lived on Jeju until she completed high school, then graduated from the education department of Korea University in Seoul in 1976.[3][4] In 1979, she was arrested and served 236 days in prison for her pro-democracy advocacy under the Park Chung Hee administration.[4][5]
Career in journalism
Suh worked for the university newspaper Korea University News (고대신문) while in school. After graduating, Suh worked for the magazines Madang (마당) and Hangukin (한국인).[6]
In 2001, she was appointed editor-in-chief of Sisa Journal.[3][7] In 2005, she was appointed editor-in-chief of the online newspaper OhmyNews.[1]
Jeju Olle Trail
In fall of 2006, after feeling burnt out,[4] Suh resigned her position and decided to walk the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain.[8] The experience was transformative for her, and inspired her to create a similar trail for Jeju. In 2007, she established the Jeju Olle Foundation and began personally walking and creating trails on the island.[3] She recruited her friends and siblings to help her find and create more trails.[9]
The first trail opened in September 2007. The trails circumnavigated the island by November 2012, although they continue to be redesigned and added to.[9] As of 2026, there are 26 trails with a total length of 437 km (272 mi). By 2025, 13 million people had walked on at least parts of the trail.[4] Over 25,000 people have completed the entire trail.[9] The impact of the trail on the economy of the island is significant, with the Jeju Institute estimating an annual economic impact of ₩1.2 trillion (US$844 million).[4]
She also inspired and assisted the creation of similar trails in other countries. In 2012, four Kyushu Olle Trails opened in Japan. In 2017, the Mongol Olle Trail was established.[6]
Later life and death
Suh was described as a notorious chain smoker. She was diagnosed with stomach cancer around a decade before her death. She quit smoking and drinking alcohol, but the cancer eventually spread to her lungs.[4] Suh died on April 7, 2026, in Seogwipo.[10] A funeral and memorial service was held for her on April 10 at Seobok Park, which is located on Trail 6 of the Jeju Olle Trail.[3]
Suh was reputed to have a fiery disposition. Her tombstone, located in the temple Namguk Seonwon (남국선원) in Seogwipo, reads, "Hush, lest you wake the queen" (쉿, 여왕님 깨실라).[8]
Awards
- Ashoka Fellow (2017)[6]
- Order of Civil Merit, Dongbaek Medal (2017)[10][6]
- Order of Civil Merit, Moran Medal (2026)[11][12]
References
- 1 2 "오마이뉴스 편집국장에 서명숙 씨 임명". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). April 18, 2005. Retrieved June 27, 2026 – via The Hankyoreh.
- ↑ "In memory of Myung Sook Suh". World Trails Network. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 고원상 (April 10, 2026). ""하늘에서도 올레를 내고 계시길 ... 위대한 여정에 사랑을 전한다"". 미디어제주 (in Korean). Retrieved June 27, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 손민호 (April 7, 2026). ""올레길서 행복하라"…'길 내는 여자' 서명숙, 하늘길 떠나다". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved July 1, 2026.
- ↑ 전홍기 (July 6, 2017). "'영초언니들'이 잊혀 '박근혜' 괴물이 자랐다". Pressian (in Korean). Retrieved July 1, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 김익태 (April 7, 2026). ""길을 낸 사람, 길로 남다"…'제주올레' 개척한 서명숙 이사장 별세". Korean Broadcasting System (in Korean). Retrieved July 1, 2026.
- ↑ 이한우 (July 4, 2010). "[조선인터뷰] '올레 신드롬' 일으킨 서명숙 '제주올레' 이사장". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved June 27, 2026.
- 1 2 유철상 (April 13, 2026). ""쉿, 여왕님 깨실라" 서명숙 제주올레 이사장의 묘비명". 뉴스콘텐츠. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
- 1 2 3 오재용 (December 2, 2024). "'걷기 열풍' 제주올레 437km 완주자, 2만5000명 넘었다". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved July 1, 2026.
- 1 2 Lim, Jae-seong (April 7, 2026). "Founder of Jeju Olle trail initiative dies at 68". The Korea Herald. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
- ↑ "고 서명숙 제주올레 이사장에 국민훈장 모란장 추서". 한라일보 (in Korean). July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ Choi, Su-Mun (July 18, 2026). "Late Suh Myung-sook, Creator of 'Jeju Olle,' Awarded Order of Civil Merit". Seoul Economic Daily. Retrieved July 19, 2026.