Hanam City Council Learns from Jeonju Hanok Village Embracing Style, Taste, and Books

On the 27th, Im Hee-do and Park Seon-mi from the 'Urban Brand and Tourism Content Development Research Group' Benchmark
Hanok Village Recorded a Historic High of 15 Million Visitors Last Year...Analyzing Competitiveness and Success Factors
Nation's First Library Tourism Program 'Jeonju Library Travel' Gains Attention for Historical Commentary and Experiences

Members of the Hanam City Council's research group, 'Urban Brand and Tourism Content Development Study Group,' Im Hee-do and Park Sun-mi, are touring the alleyways of Jeonju Hanok Village on the 26th.

The Hanam City Council research group, ‘Urban Brand and Tourism Content Development Research Association (led by Im Hee-do),’ visited Jeonju Hanok Village in Jeollabuk-do, which recorded a historic high of 15 million visitors last year.

According to the Hanam City Council on the 28th, Representative Im Hee-do and Vice Representative Park Seon-mi of the ‘Urban Brand and Tourism Content Development Research Association’ visited Jeonju Hanok Village on the 26th. The village has been selected six consecutive times in the ‘Top 100 Korean Tourism Destinations’ by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization. They thoroughly examined its status and competitiveness as a representative cultural and tourist destination in Korea.

On that day, the council members explored the alleyways of Hanok Village with a cultural tourism guide and studied the history of Jeonju, which was considered one of the three major cities during the Joseon Dynasty alongside Hanyang and Pyongyang based on the number of households. They learned how Jeonju grew into a city rich in various cultures such as calligraphy, crafts, cuisine, and traditional music.

They also analyzed the success factors of Hanok Village, including the systematic establishment of district unit plans based on the enactment of the Hanok Preservation Ordinance, infrastructure development to accommodate tourists, and the development of specialized content utilizing traditional culture such as Hanok, Gyeonggijeon Shrine, and guesthouses. They highly praised Jeonju City’s consistent policy implementation.

Representatives Im Hee-do and Park Seon-mi stated, “Hanok Village, which played a leading role in establishing Jeonju as the most Korean city not only in Korea but worldwide, greatly contributes to regional economic revitalization and cultural development. Above all, we were able to see firsthand efforts to revitalize Hanok Village through changes in district unit plans, such as restrictions on food items and floor regulations, without damaging the village’s uniqueness and identity, aiming to transform it into an international tourist destination.”

In particular, Representatives Im Hee-do and Park Seon-mi showed keen interest in ‘Jeonju Library Travel,’ the nation’s first library tourism program operated by Jeonju City, which is currently evolving into a ‘City of Books.’

Within Hanok Village, they visited the ‘Hanok Village Library,’ where visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of traditional Hanok houses, and the ‘Dongmun Used Book Library,’ which shares the value of used books and features works that were once banned from publication and sale but are now recognized as classics. They toured the scene where about 20 small and large libraries scattered throughout Jeonju are gaining popularity as stay-type tourism resources.

Representatives Im Hee-do and Park Seon-mi said, “Based on the success of Hanok Village, Jeonju’s operation of the nation’s first ‘Jeonju Library Travel’ program, where libraries and books become central to citizens’ lives, and the differentiated library travel courses aiming to establish Jeonju as a city of books, were impressive.”

Meanwhile, the ‘Urban Brand and Tourism Content Development Research Association,’ led by Representative Im Hee-do, has been conducting systematic research since May with Representatives Park Seon-mi and Geum Gwang-yeon to build a differentiated image of Hanam City, enhance urban brand value, and attract tourists.

To this end, they are dedicating efforts to exploring sustainable urban development measures through investigating domestic and international cases, analyzing Hanam City’s urban brand and tourism status, comparing and analyzing major competing cities, holding policy forums, and publishing research reports.