Jun Nak-yeong "Accelerating Glocal Tourism City"
World's Only 'Gobeun Concert' Extremely Popular
Tourism in Gyeongju is experiencing a vertical rise since May, the 'Family Month,' breaking free from the long tunnel of COVID-19. On weekends and holidays, tourists flock to enjoy 'Bulgeum' late into the night, losing track of time.
According to Gyeongju City on the 4th, the number of visitors to three representative tourist sites in the Gyeongju area?Daereungwon, Bulguksa, and Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond?reached 587,945 in May, a 35% increase compared to the same period last year (435,061 visitors).
Adding the 1,432,331 visitors to Hwangridan-gil, which has been officially counted since January this year, the total number of visitors in May reached 2,020,276, making Gyeongju overcrowded with tourists.
Despite the rainy and gloomy weather during golden holidays such as Children's Day and Buddha's Birthday, special events like the large-scale flower garden, free admission to Daereungwon, media art, and the Lantern Festival did not deter the influx of visitors to Gyeongju.
Additionally, the opening of the 'Bulgeum Yechan' night market on Geumridang-gil on the 26th of last month attracted a crowd of 8,000 people, resulting in a bustling scene with food supplies running out on the first day.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the excavation of Cheonmachong Tomb and the free opening of Daereungwon, the '2023 Gyeongju Daereungwon Media Art' was held for a month from the 4th of last month to the 4th of this month.
This event was praised for providing a new concept of historical education by re-evaluating the archaeological value of artifacts excavated from Daereungwon at the present time and producing new visual content that combines advanced ICT and artistic value.
To create a media art experience encompassing the entire Daereungwon, various contents were produced and composed without adding artificial structures, preserving the structural characteristics of the Daereungwon tumulus group as they are.
Various media arts, including kinetic shadow plays based on the legend of Michu Wangneung, media facades inside and outside Cheonmachong, floor lighting made from excavated artifacts, and Silla constellation lighting art, offered both interest and emotion simultaneously.
Meanwhile, the site has recently become a popular 'late-night date' spot as it gained attention in various online communities.
The alley night market 'Bulgeum Yechan,' held on Geumridang-gil, the central commercial district of the old downtown area of Gyeongju, is leading the revitalization of the old downtown.
On the 26th and 27th of last month, about 8,000 citizens and tourists visited the 130-meter section from Starbucks on Wonhyo-ro 105beon-gil to LG Uplus, marking a successful start for the Gyeongju central commercial district alley night market 'Bulgeum Yechan.'
During the first week of opening, various street performances, events, K-pop cover dance performances, and on-site impromptu recreations added to the enjoyment. Notably, this year's night market significantly improved on last year's shortcomings.
In addition to spaces where visitors can comfortably sit and enjoy draft beer and food, the variety of sellers and products was diversified. The number of food and flea market booths was greatly increased, offering a rich menu including grilled scallops with cheese, okonomiyaki, yukjeon (pan-fried beef), chicken skewers, and various accessories. A tarot caf? was also introduced, providing a unique experience.
The night market will be held for six months until October 28. In June and September, it will be open every Friday, and in August and October, every Friday and Saturday. Operating hours are from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Also, a 39,584㎡ area around Cheomseongdae, an eastern historic site in Gyeongju, is attracting tourists with blooming red poppies and yellow golden bells.
The fully bloomed poppies and golden bells are flowers grown from seeds sown last fall, boasting even more abundant beauty. Ranunculus, lupinus, and marguerite also bloom together, offering a variety of colors.
As the peak tourist season approaches, sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos, and lotus flowers will bloom, providing even richer sights.
The '2023 Hyeongsan River Lantern Culture Festival,' which decorated the Hyeongsan River's Geumjangdae and downtown area with lights of hope, concluded its 27-day grand journey on the 29th of last month with a splendid finale.
The highlight of the opening ceremony, the lantern parade, filled the 3.1 km route from the opening stage through Yeongmaeul Samgeori to Bonghwangdae with lanterns and lights, led by a traditional military band, captivating the citizens' attention.
From the first to the last day of the event, street lanterns were displayed from Geumjanggyo Bridge to Janggun Bridge to create a festive atmosphere, and the Hyeongsan River 'Lantern Forest' was exhibited around Geumjangdae, Dongguk University, and hospitals, showcasing an unprecedented night view.
Gyeongju also offered a high-quality traditional Korean music travel experience unique to the city. Performances were held 20 times from the 20th of last month to October 28 at local tourist attractions such as Gyochon Village, Woljeonggyo Square, Cheomseongdae Square, and Bomun Lakeside Square.
The 'Silla Moonlight Tour,' a representative nighttime tourism program in Gyeongju, has also entered full operation.
Visitors receive a white lantern at the Woljeonggyo information booth, then draw pictures and write wishes on it to create their own white lantern. Afterwards, they carry the lantern and follow the moonlight to tour Gyerim, Wolseong moat, and Cheomseongdae in sequence.
Moreover, the old Gyeongju Station has transformed into a complex cultural space called 'Gyeongju Culture Hall 1918,' gaining vitality, with the 1918 Concert playing a significant role at its center.
Starting with 'Soran' on the 20th of last month and continuing with 'KCM & Wonstein' on the 10th of this month, a total of five mini concerts will be held until August, enlivening Saturday nights in Gyeongju.
The world's only tomb concert, 'Bonghwangdae Music Square,' also captivated citizens every Friday night, starting with performances by Kim Hyunjung, Jang Boyun, Park Mikyung, and So Chanwhi on the 12th of last month, followed by Shin Yu and Park Juhee on the 19th, and the rock band Mongni on the 26th.
Mayor Jun Nak-young of Gyeongju said, "The free opening of Daereungwon and the revitalization of the central shopping district Geumridang-gil will bring revolutionary changes to local tourism in the future," adding, "We will accelerate the creation of a glocal tourism city through innovations in the tourism industry such as the establishment of smart tourism books, operation of four-season festivals, and remodeling of the Bomun tourism complex."
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