[Jangseong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jo Hangyu] Jangseong-gun, Jeollanam-do is accelerating efforts to create a "10 million tourism era" in the new year.
The county announced on the 5th that it plans to enhance competitiveness by efficiently supporting the development of tourism, culture, and food, while strengthening the connectivity between tourism resources.
Pillam Seowon, dedicated to the Joseon Dynasty Confucian scholar Kim Inhu, a representative of the Joseon era, is an outstanding cultural asset symbolizing Jangseong-gun, the hometown of scholars, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Selected as a Jeonnam-type regional growth strategic project in 2021, the county is promoting the "World Heritage Pillam Seowon Scholar Culture Development Project" with a total budget of 10 billion KRW.
They are also implementing remodeling of Jipseonggwan, creating a digital exhibition space for scholar culture, maintaining traditional gardens, and establishing a scholar culture platform.
The county plans to take a step further by connecting Hwangryonggang River, where tens of billions of seasonal flowers bloom, Pillam Seowon, and the Park Suryang Stele with a pine tree-lined forest path, expanding and developing it into a unique tourism content.
Increasing tourism demand is linked to food development and residents' income. The goal is to establish Jangseong's five major taste streets, which fully embody the strengths of Jangseong and Namdo cuisine, and to become a mecca of food tourism by attracting the National Namdo Food Promotion Institute.
At the end of last year, the county actively conducted research by gathering expert opinions through the Namdo Food Culture Round Table meeting and holding a food exhibition at the Mirak Complex Namdo Food Street.
The shabu-shabu dish made with cypress wood steamers from Chukryeongsan was also highlighted by exhibition participants.
The county's vision that food will be a driving factor for tourism development and regional economic revitalization has already passed one test.
At the Hwangryonggang Autumn Flower Festival held last October, it contributed to the great success of attracting 770,000 visitors by offering reasonably priced and delicious food.
Hwangryonggang, famous as the Flower River, is developing a local garden utilizing Jangseong's scholar culture and location conditions, while Chukryeongsan, embraced by cypress forests, is building forest leisure infrastructure to further activate healing tourism.
The county plans to open new horizons in sports tourism by newly establishing a park golf course and hosting the Provincial Sports Festival in 2025.
County Governor Kim Hanjong said, "The tourism industry has infinite potential, so much so that it is called a 'factory without chimneys.' We will create new changes by linking various elements such as Jangseong's nature, culture, history, food, and sports."
Jangseong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jo Hangyu baekok@asiae.co.kr
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