Uljin-gun Advances Designation of 'Wangpicheon' as National Park... Feasibility Study Area Confirmed

Wangpicheon area, Uljin-gun.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] Preparations are underway to designate the Wangpicheon area in Uljin, Gyeongbuk, known as the country's best remote area and boasting pristine nature, as a national park.

Uljin County announced on the 8th that it has finalized the target area for a feasibility study as part of preliminary work to propose the designation of this area as a national park.

The target area includes Sugok 2-ri and Gusan 3-ri in Geunnam-myeon, Samgeun 1 and 2-ri and Wangpi 1 and 2-ri in Geumgangsong-myeon, and additionally, Daehung-ri in Uljin-eup, Haenggok 3-ri in Geunnam-myeon, and Hawon-ri in Geumgangsong-myeon were included under the pretext of efficient management of Bulyoung Valley County Park.

Deokgu-ri, Hadang-ri, and Ducheon-ri in Buk-myeon, and Sogwang-ri, Gwanghoe-ri, and Ssangjeon-ri in Geumgangsong-myeon were excluded from the target area reflecting the opinions of the Korea Forest Service and residents.

From February 22 to 24, Uljin County, together with the Korea Environment Policy and Evaluation Institute and the Korea National Park Service, visited the nine villages in the target area individually to provide detailed explanations regarding the national park designation and to listen to opinions from each village.

In mid-March, a residents' briefing session (public hearing) will be held, followed by a feasibility study proposal to the Ministry of Environment through Gyeongbuk Province in April.

Jeon Chan-geol, the mayor of Uljin County, stated, "The Wangpicheon and Bulyoung Valley areas have a natural environment of exceptional beauty, but there have been few opportunities to inform many people about them so far. We expect that the designation as a national park will promote the excellent natural environment and enhance the regional brand value, thereby revitalizing local tourism."

Meanwhile, Wangpicheon is a river that originates in Subi-myeon, Yeongyang County, Gyeongbuk, and flows 60.95 km until it reaches the East Sea. It was recently designated as an environmental landscape conservation area.