Gyeongnam Province Promotes Land, Sea, and Air Tourism Following Admiral Yi Sun-sin's Footsteps

General Yi Sun-sin Victory Site Pilgrimage Project

To Be Promoted as the No. 1 Tourism Project on the South Coast

Gyeongsangnam-do announced the ‘Admiral Yi Sun-sin Victory Sites Pilgrimage Project’ on the 22nd.

On the same day, Gyeongnam Province held a briefing and announced that it will promote the project as the first tourism initiative of the South Coast Era.

The province stated, “Admiral Yi Sun-sin is an unparalleled hero in our history, a national hero who recorded an undefeated myth of 23 wins in 23 battles over seven years of war,” adding, “We will consistently promote Yi Sun-sin-related projects in cooperation with central government agencies, Busan, Jeonnam, and others.”

To this end, three projects will be pursued: ▲leading the Admiral Yi Sun-sin Victory Sites Pilgrimage Project ▲operating tourism products using the existing Admiral Yi Sun-sin Victory Sites Pilgrimage Route ▲and upgrading the Yi Sun-sin Pilgrimage Route.

Director Cha Seok-ho of the Culture, Tourism, and Sports Bureau of Gyeongnam Province is announcing the General Yi Sun-sin Victory Site Trail Project.
[Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]

The Victory Sites Pilgrimage Project will run from 2024 to 2027, involving the maintenance of coastal trails around naval battle sites, the Baekuijonggun Road, and the establishment of the Navy Reconstruction Road section in Gyeongnam.

Currently, the Namhaean Nampalanggil, part of the Korea Dulle-gil, is linked with the Yi Sun-sin Naval Battle Site Exploration Trail, and the Baekuijonggun Road, which is mainly a car road, will have its pedestrian environment improved.

The Navy Reconstruction Road, developed and operated in Jeonnam, will be extended to the Gyeongnam section starting from the birthplace of Son Gyeong-rye in Jinju, where the admiral was reappointed as the Commander of the Three Provinces Navy.

Marina and cruise infrastructure will be established around major naval battle sites to create a maritime pilgrimage route, and in the long term, urban air mobility (UAM) tourism will be separately implemented.

General Yi Sun-sin Victory Site Pilgrimage Tour Course. [Data provided by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

Based on the admiral’s victory sites, the province also introduced three tourism products linking sea routes, land routes, local restaurants, accommodations, and tourist attractions.

They are ▲From Okpo to Hansan and then to Noryang (2 nights 3 days) ▲Overwhelming Victory, Hansan Great Battle Tour (1 night 2 days) ▲Site of Martyrdom, Noryang Tour (1 night 2 days).

The products include visits to the Jinhae Yi Sun-sin Leadership Center and Naval Academy, Goseong Danghangpo Naval Battle Park and trails, Tongyeong Sebyeonggwan and Dongpirang, Yi Sun-sin Park, Sacheon Seonjini Fortress, Sacheon cruise tours, Chilcheonryang Naval Battle onboard tours, Yi Sun-sin Martyrdom Park and Namhae Chungnyeolsa Shrine tours, and mudflat experiences.

Based on the developed products, the province plans to select a dedicated travel agency to recruit tourists and promote the project through street promotions, fairs, and marketing using online media such as social networking services (SNS), YouTube, and travel platforms.

For pilgrimage routes with inadequate pedestrian environments, alternative routes will be continuously discovered, and disconnected sections will be improved by installing deck roads and other upgrades, aiming to make the Admiral Yi Sun-sin Victory Sites Pilgrimage Route a world-class tourist destination.

Cha Seok-ho, Director of the Culture, Tourism and Sports Bureau, said, “Last year, Jeju Olle Trail was the only domestic trail to introduce a joint completion system with the Santiago Pilgrimage Trail,” and added, “Once Gyeongnam’s Admiral Yi Sun-sin Victory Sites Pilgrimage Route completes its upgrade project and introduces a joint completion system with the Santiago Pilgrimage Trail, it will establish itself as a representative walking course in Korea.”