Representative Proposal of the "Road Act" for Introducing the Tourist Road System
Kim Hoe-jae: "We Must Create Tourist Roads That Capture and Allow Enjoyment of Beautiful Natural Scenery"
[Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Cheol-hoon] Kim Hoe-jae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Jeonnam Yeosu-si Eul), held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall on the 28th to urge the introduction of a tourist road system and the designation of the Yeosu Baekri Seomseom-gil tourist road.
Although Korea has a world-class road network with excellent scenery, including being surrounded by the sea on three sides, there have been criticisms that there is a lack of wide-area tourist routes linking excellent natural scenery centered on roads with attractive tourist areas such as unique local history and culture.
In response, Rep. Kim stated at the press conference, “There is a need for ‘branding of roads’ that can embody the tourism and cultural significance of roads and the surrounding scenery and nature,” and announced that he would take the lead in proposing the 「Partial Amendment to the Road Act」 to introduce the tourist road system.
He also said, “Yeosu has Baekri Seomseom-gil, where you can enjoy the ria coastline of the southern coast and the scenery of the Dadohae,” adding, “The 39km Baekri Seomseom-gil, which connects islands with 11 bridges, should be designated as Korea’s first tourist road to establish it as a ‘world-class natural scenic drive course.’”
He continued, “The designation of Baekri Seomseom-gil as a tourist road will also accelerate the synergy effect with the Yeosu-Namhae Undersea Tunnel project, which will start this year,” emphasizing, “We must build a southern coastal southern-central marine tourism hub connecting Yeongnam and Honam through tourist roads.”
Rep. Kim’s 「Partial Amendment to the Road Act」 focuses on introducing the tourist road system.
It establishes criteria to designate roads with excellent surrounding scenery and abundant tourist resources in the surrounding areas as tourist roads, and allows the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to designate tourist roads upon request from city or provincial governors.
Additionally, it will establish a tourist road information system to provide information to the general public.
Countries such as the United States, Norway, and Germany already operate systems for designating and managing tourist roads.
The United States promotes scenic road programs under the leadership of the Federal Highway Administration, Norway has developed its fjord coastline into an international tourist product, and Germany has turned the Romantic Road, which stretches from the Main River to the Alps, into a tourist resource.
According to Rep. Kim’s office, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is reportedly reviewing the 「Partial Amendment to the Road Act」 for the introduction of the tourist road system positively.
Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Cheol-hoon cch@asiae.co.kr
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