Gwangyang-si, Baealdo Neighborhood Park Campground Converted to Paid Use

Enactment of Campground Management and Operation Ordinance, Addition of Registration and Safety Standard Facilities

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Gwangyang City announced on the 27th that it will promote the conversion of the camping site within Baealdo Neighborhood Park to a paid facility to establish a healthy camping culture and create a safe and pleasant space.

The Baealdo Neighborhood Park camping site is the only beach camping site in Gwangyang, located where the Seomjin River meets the sea, equipped with 23 car camping decks, restrooms, showers, sinks, and pergolas.

Opened in 2016 and free of charge until now, the site has seen a significant increase in external visitors since the opening of the sea footbridge connecting Baealdo and the waterfront park last year. This has led to issues such as unauthorized long-term stays, indiscriminate cooking, and illegal dumping, raising the need for safety management and making the transition to a paid system more visible.

Additionally, since the camping site is near the zip track arrival point between Mangdeoksan and Baealdo Neighborhood Park, scheduled for completion in the first half of next year, the paid conversion is also being considered as part of measures to improve a pleasant tourism reception system.

The city plans to enact a camping site management ordinance, fully equip safety standard facilities such as cooking and residual fire disposal facilities, emergency broadcasting systems, safety fences, and management buildings, and register the site as a paid camping site. It will be operated either directly by the city or entrusted to the private sector starting in March next year.

With the transition to a paid system, it is expected that a safe and pleasant camping environment will be created by limiting the number of users, greatly contributing to enhancing the local image.

Lee Hwa-yeop, Director of Tourism, said, “Recently, social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic has become routine, and the attractiveness of Baealdo Waterfront Park has increased, leading to a surge in campers and raising the need for safety management. Through the conversion to a paid camping site, we will cultivate a safe and healthy space where citizens and visitors can enjoy rest and leisure while viewing the beach.”

Meanwhile, camping sites specified in the 「Tourism Promotion Act」 are places equipped with appropriate infrastructure such as fire, electrical, and communication facilities, as well as operational personnel, and provide convenience to users by charging an entrance fee.