Room 1114 at Gyeongju Commodore Hotel Where Park Chung-hee Stayed... Gyeongbuk Tourism Corporation to Develop Tourism Product

Hotel Gumoosan Room 555 Revisited
"Promoting Gyeongbuk Industrial Heritage to the World"

Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Organization (President Kim Namil) announced on the 30th that it will re-examine the value of industrial heritage sites in Gyeongsangbuk-do, which led the modernization of Korea, and utilize them to establish a sustainable tourism model.

The 'K-Industrial Heritage Trail' project, currently being promoted by Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Organization, was designed to turn the industrial heritage sites that contributed to Korea's industrialization and democratization since the 1970s into tourism products, thereby enhancing Gyeongbuk's pride and providing a venue for historical education.

First, a trail route is being developed as a tourism product that connects Yukbuchon in Bomun Tourist Complex, the birthplace of Korea's tourism convention industry and the venue for the 1979 PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) workshop, Room 1114 of the Commodore Hotel where former President Park Chunghee stayed during the early days of the complex, and the Tourism History Park that records the history of the Bomun Tourist Complex.

Gyeongju Komodo Hotel designated as an industrial heritage site by Gyeongbuk Province

Room 1114 of the Commodore Hotel was designated with former President Park's birthday as the room number. The entrance, reception room, staff room, and office are all decorated with phoenix patterns and stories symbolizing Gyeongbuk, making it an intriguing attraction for both foreign and domestic tourists.

Additionally, there are Rooms 301 and 302 at Hotel Yeongildae, which overlook the construction site that transformed the Yeongilman area of Pohang into the Pohang Steelworks.

These rooms were also used exclusively by former President Park and have been preserved in their original state. The guest rooms, observatory, walking trails, and lake park all have value as industrial heritage sites.

In Gumi, Gyeongbuk, Room 555 of Hotel Geumosan, which former President Park used as his office for the development of the national industrial complex, still preserves the furniture, numerous photographs, and handwritten frames from his tenure.

In addition, Ssangyong Cement in Mungyeong, Owunyeosang in Gumi, Jamsil in Sangju, and POSCO Blast Furnace No.1 are also being re-examined for their value as industrial heritage sites in Korea.

Yukbuchon within Gyeongju Bomun Tourist Complex, being developed as a tourism product by Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Corporation.

Kim Namil, President of Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Organization, stated, "With the development of tourism programs themed around industrial heritage, we aim to lead new tourism trends and promote the diversity of Gyeongbuk tourism to the world, opening up Gyeongbuk as an open tourism destination."

Meanwhile, Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Organization has established a long-term plan to promote the value of Gyeongbuk's industrial heritage through international seminars and forums, produce guidebooks containing information on the history and development of each site, commercialize them as tourism products, and eventually develop them into UNESCO World Heritage sites.