Jeongeup-si, Naejangsan National Park Selected as One of the 'Top 100 Korean Tourist Attractions'

[Jeongeup=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil] Naejangsan National Park, a representative tourist destination in Jeongeup City, Jeonbuk, has been selected as one of the ‘Top 100 Korean Tourist Attractions’ representing Korea for 2023-2024, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization.

According to the city on the 13th, the ‘Top 100 Korean Tourist Attractions’ is a project that selects and promotes 100 representative tourist sites that both Koreans and foreign visitors to Korea must visit every two years.

The selection is made through analysis of big data from mobile carriers, navigation systems, SNS, and expert evaluations.

Naejangsan, selected for the fifth time in the ‘Top 100 Korean Tourist Attractions,’ was first selected in 2013 and has been consecutively selected four times since 2017, proudly maintaining its status as a representative tourist destination in Korea.

Naejangsan, named for the countless treasures hidden within the mountain, was designated as a national park on November 17, 1971.

Known for its beautiful autumn foliage, it has been famous as one of the Eight Scenic Views of Joseon since ancient times. In the Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam (Geographical Survey of Korea), it is counted among the five great mountains of Honam along with Jirisan in Namwon, Wolchulsan in Yeongam, Cheongwansan in Jangheung, and Neunggasan (Byeonsan) in Buan.

Naejangsan boasts a natural landscape that is beautiful in all four seasons: fresh green in spring, lush greenery in summer, fiery red leaves in autumn, and snowy scenery in winter, attracting more than one million tourists annually.

Last year, the Cultural Heritage Administration designated the largest and oldest maple tree in Naejangsan as Natural Monument No. 563, the only single tree nationally designated as a cultural heritage.

With this selection, Naejangsan National Park will receive various benefits over the next two years as an excellent tourist destination representing Korea, including promotion at tourist information centers nationwide and worldwide, as well as on travel and tourism information websites.

Additionally, detailed information will be provided on the website ‘Korea Tourism Organization’ and translated into English, Japanese, Chinese, and other languages to introduce it globally.

The city is promoting various projects to develop the Naejangsan area as a Jeongeup stay-type tourism hub.

Focusing on Naejangsan as a base, the city is concentrating on developing unique content utilizing ecological tourism resources linked with Naejangho, which was removed from the national park zone, and the Solti Forest and Wolyeong Wetlands, designated as national ecological tourism areas.

The city plans to create a hot place connecting tourist resources around Yongsanho, such as Naejangsan Resort, the high-end accommodation Elis Stay, and Naejangsan Golf Course, with nearby Jeongchon Gayo Special Zone, Jeongeup Station, and Jeongeupcheon Stream, spreading tourism effects throughout the city.

Mayor Lee Hak-su said, “We plan to expand tourism content linking Naejangsan, Naejangho, Naejangsan Cultural Plaza, and Yongsanho to develop the Naejangsan area into a representative stay-type tourism hub in Korea.”

Jeongeup=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil baekok@asiae.co.kr