Healing and Experience Landmark 'Gijang Doyechon Theme Forest' Returns to Daily Life

Gijang-gun to Reopen Andersen Fairy Tale Forest, Waterfront Park, and Walking Trails to Citizens from March 8

Donghwa Forest in Busan Gijang Ceramic Village Theme Forest.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] ‘Gijang Ceramic Village Theme Forest,’ a healing and health experience attraction that Busan prides itself on, will reopen from the 8th, restoring everyday life.

Gijang County decided to open the Gijang Ceramic Village Theme Forest, which had been temporarily closed, following the government’s easing of social distancing to level 1.5 in non-metropolitan areas.

It returned to the citizens’ hands about three months after its temporary closure on November 27 last year in response to the third wave of COVID-19.

The Gijang Ceramic Village Theme Forest is set on a spacious site of 625,145㎡ within the Gijang Ceramic Tourism Healing Village, featuring spaces inspired by Andersen’s fairy tales.

It is designed as a forest health experience space that encompasses all generations, allowing visitors to enjoy health and relaxation by utilizing the natural spaces within the Ceramic Village.

Themed paths and photo zones recreating spaces from Andersen’s fairy tales, a fairy tale forest, a waterside park with the Ugly Duckling, and a fairy tale lake with a circular walking trail are arranged to offer a ‘fairy tale-like’ experience amid beautiful nature.

Before its closure, about 2,000 tourists visited on weekends, making it a popular contactless tourist destination even during the COVID-19 situation.

Oh Gyu-seok, Gijang County Governor, said, “We want to provide a small resting space where residents exhausted by COVID-19 can be comforted by nature. We will strictly adhere to social distancing and quarantine activities to offer visitors a rare gift of ‘safety’ and ‘healing’ together.”

Gijang County plans to supplement the Ceramic Village management staff to respond to environmental maintenance and facility management, and complete the installation of public restrooms, CCTV, and streetlights within the theme forest in the first half of the year to provide a safe and better tourism environment for theme forest visitors.