Hapcheon-gun, Your Exclusive 'Wellness' Amid Pristine Nature

Well-being City Hapcheon-gun Meets Health and Happiness

The world has come to re-recognize the importance of a healthy life, and interest in seeking mental and physical stability amid busy daily routines has greatly increased. Against this backdrop, Hapcheon is gaining attention as a ‘wellness tourism city’ that pursues well-being and happiness through travel.

‘Odosan Healing Forest,’ a representative wellness tourist destination in Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongnam, offers visitors comfort for both body and mind through negative ions emitted from centuries-old native pine trees and the sounds of nature. Various thermal programs such as forest healing programs, half-body baths, and foot baths provide an optimal healing space for weary modern people.

This place offers programs and services centered around four themes: traditional Korean medicine, healing & meditation, beauty & spa, and nature & forest healing, which help promote mental and physical health. As a result, Hapcheon has once again proven itself as a wellness tourism city by being selected as a wellness tourist destination in 2024, following 2020 and 2022.

Odosan Healing Forest, Hapcheon-gun.

Hwangmaesan County Park, selected as one of Korea’s top 100 tourist spots, is a famous mountain boasting seasonal beauty with azaleas in spring, green plains in summer, silver grass in autumn, and snow flowers in winter. Visitors can enjoy the vibrant Azalea Festival and the golden Silver Grass Festival, escaping into a happy everyday life.

Also, at Gayasan Sorigil Forest, selected as one of Korea’s top 100 premium forests by the Korea Forest Service, visitors can listen to tranquil sounds, stream water, birdsong, and the voice of their own hearts while passing through Haeinsa Hongryudong Valley, which boasts diverse seasonal landscapes. Here, one can feel the spirit and breath of the Tripitaka Koreana and entrust their mind and body to nature.

Moreover, listening to the cherry blossom ending along Hapcheon Baekri Cherry Blossom Road and spending a happy day with family at Hapcheon Film Theme Park, which boasts the largest historical drama open set in the country, and the Blue House set, happiness is never far away.

Hapcheon, with the largest area in Gyeongnam?1.6 times the size of Seoul?boasts outstanding natural scenery. True to its slogan, ‘Beautiful Hapcheon,’ clear water and beautiful landscapes come together to provide an ideal environment for camping and leisure.

Hwangmaesan Byeolkkung Camping Site, accessible by car up to an altitude of 850 meters, is available to people of all ages, and there are many places along Hapcheonho Lake where visitors can enjoy various types of camping such as camping, glamping, and Airstream. As a result, it received the K-Wellness Brand Award in the natural forest camping category in 2023.

In Hapcheon, visitors can enjoy various leisure activities such as paddling wooden canoes along the Hwanggang River or paragliding over Daamsan Mountain, where the Chogye and Jeokjung basins?meteorite impact craters from 50,000 years ago?can be seen at a glance.

Diverse water leisure activities at Bongsan and Daebyeong, sightseeing flights offering panoramic views of Gayasan, Hwangmaesan, and Hapcheonho, and Hwarang sports survival games await visitors. In line with the aging society, various park golf facilities, noted for their low-impact exercise, are also well equipped, making Hapcheon a perfect wellness tourism city.

County Governor Kim Yoon-cheol said, “Hapcheon is not only a place rich in history and tradition with the millennium-old temple Haeinsa and a meteorite impact crater from 50,000 years ago, but also a clean, safe, and healing wellness tourism city boasting natural scenery that can be enjoyed all year round.” He added, “We hope many people will travel to Hapcheon, a healing city where they can spend a healthy day well-being and happily.”