Uiryeong-gun 'Bujabaetgil Tour' ... Sotbawi and Lee Byungchul's Birthplace Emerging as Premium Tourist Attractions

"Should I Take a High-Speed Ferry or Go on an Ecotour?"

Uiryeong County in Gyeongnam announced on the 4th that as the high-end “Boat Route Tour,” which visits wealth-bringing tourist attractions such as Sotbawi and the birthplace of Lee Byung-chul, is becoming more concrete, County Governor Oh Tae-wan, department heads, and others all participated in a “boat trial and on-site inspection” on the 2nd.

The “Wealth Boat Route Tour” was first introduced at last year’s Uiryeong Rich Rich Festival, received very positive feedback in satisfaction surveys, and has emerged as a new hit tourism product for Uiryeong.

Uiryeong Hit Product Rich Boat Tour.
[Image provided by Uiryeong County]

The combination of wealth-bringing energy and a river tour has continued to attract attention since the government officially announced last year that it would develop the birthplaces of conglomerate founders as tourism courses, and Uiryeong County began promoting the “Namgang Boat Route Project,” connecting Sotbawi, where legends of wealth flow, and the birthplace of Lee Byung-chul, along the gateway to Uiryeong.

When reservations opened for last year’s Rich Rich Festival, they quickly sold out, showing its popularity. High satisfaction and positive reviews from participants were reflected in Uiryeong County’s policy direction.

The “Wealth Boat Route Tour” is a one-hour course covering 8.5 km, where visitors board a non-motorized boat with a cultural commentator and tour five wealth-bringing sites, including Sotbawi, which foretells the birth of the wealthy, Tapbawi, where wishes come true, and the birthplace of Samsung Group founder Lee Byung-chul.

Uiryeong County, Take the High-Speed Ferry or Go on an Ecological Trip.
[Image provided by Uiryeong County]

During the last festival, participants unanimously described the “full course”?riding a boat on the pristine Namgang River, visiting wealth-bringing sites, and finally enjoying a “Wealth Table Rich Lunchbox” made from Uiryeong’s fresh local specialties?as “special.” In particular, they expressed high satisfaction with the in-depth explanations provided by the professional guides.

On this day, options were discussed to divide the boat tour into 15-minute, 30-minute, and 1-hour courses so tourists could choose according to their preferences. There was consensus on introducing a “15-minute express boat” that would not be affected by water depth or weather.

The old main dock at Jangbak Village in Hwajeong-myeon was considered the optimal location for the pier. Although a bridge now stands there and boats have disappeared, it was once a prime spot for boats, including those from Busan on the Nakdong River, to dock and depart.

Governor Oh Tae-wan suggested building the pier in connection with the premium “100-ri Wealth Seolre-gil” trail starting from Hwajeong-myeon and developing a separate, longer course of over one hour for walking tours.

There was also a suggestion to add an ecological tourism program where visitors can learn about the natural ecosystem.

The area around the Namgang River in Uiryeong is home to a variety of aquatic plants, and birds such as herons, plovers, and cormorants?rarely seen elsewhere?frequently appear along the boat route.

Meanwhile, Uiryeong County plans to further develop the “Wealth Boat Route Tour” and establish Sotbawi, the origin of wealth in Korea, and the birthplace of Lee Byung-chul, where the dawn of Korea’s economic transformation began, as the core of K-tourism content.

In particular, last year’s boat route tour boosted confidence as it received an enthusiastic response from 60 international students from Busan National University, Kyungpook National University, and others.

During this year’s Rich Rich Festival, there are plans to invite families of US military personnel stationed in Pyeongtaek.

This year, the county will significantly increase foreigner familiarization tours for the Rich Rich Festival, invite overseas broadcasters, and explore the potential for the festival to become a global event. From October 3 to 6, applications will be accepted from 100 general tourists per day, and the number of participants has been increased in response to the surge in inquiries this year.

Governor Oh stated, “The government aims to expand the birthplaces of conglomerate founders into Korean tourism content sought after by people worldwide, and Uiryeong County is determined to develop the area around Samsung Chairman Lee Byung-chul’s birthplace into a world-class tourist destination. Both parties are on board together,” adding, “We will concretize and realize a special tourism experience overflowing with wealth-bringing energy that everyone can enjoy, and present it to the public.”