Gwangyang Baegunsan Forest Museum Emerges as Jeonnam's Leading Forest Culture Venue

A Complex Cultural Space Connecting Nature and Culture
A New Attraction for Tourism, Education, and Hands-on Experiences

Gwangyang City in Jeollanam-do announced on the 14th that it will actively accelerate the operation of the Baegunsan Forest Museum, which opened last February.

The Baegunsan Forest Museum, the only forest museum in the eastern region of Jeollanam-do, has been establishing itself as a representative forest cultural space in the province, attracting an average of about 240 visitors per day since its opening.

The Baegunsan Forest Museum in Gwangyang, the only forest museum in the eastern region of Jeollanam-do, has established itself as a representative forest culture space in Jeollanam-do, attracting an average of about 240 visitors per day since its opening. Provided by Gwangyang City

Baegunsan is a renowned ecological resource in Korea, home to over 980 species of plants and a variety of wild animals. The Baegunsan Forest Museum, established to preserve these resources and promote their value, is expected to serve not only as an exhibition space but also as a complex cultural venue encompassing forest cultural tourism, education, and hands-on experiences, as well as a hub for forest education.

The Baegunsan Forest Museum is designed to move beyond static exhibitions, allowing visitors to engage and learn through interactive experiences. The first exhibition hall, themed "The Forest is Disappearing," introduces the public functions of forests and highlights the issue of forest degradation, such as the disappearance of flora and fauna due to climate change, through video displays. To convey the importance of protecting endangered species, it provides name cards of endangered species. At the exit, visitors can also enjoy a cycling experience along the Baegunsan trail, which helps purify the forest. The second exhibition hall, themed "The Forest is Precious," showcases the seasonal changes of Baegunsan and its diverse ecosystems.

In the spring-themed area, visitors can watch vibrant videos of Baegunsan azaleas, participate in leaf fossil stamping activities, and access information about wildflowers through a kiosk. The summer-themed area features an interactive media zone where visitors can experience the refreshing streams of Baegunsan Valley and encounter various animals through an AR monitor.

The autumn-themed area offers a maple climbing experience, simulating a hike through the colorful autumn foliage of Baegunsan. The winter-themed area provides VR experiences such as building snowmen and snowball fights, as well as a glow-in-the-dark mural activity for creating special memories.

The third exhibition hall, themed "Together with the Forest," is a space where visitors can appreciate the beautiful scenery of Baegunsan on a large screen and feel united with the forest. It is designed to stimulate not only sight and hearing but also touch and smell, allowing visitors to feel the cool breeze and the scent of the forest, ensuring that their experience at Baegunsan remains memorable.

Inside the museum, 20 specimens out of 544 plant species collected from Baegunsan are displayed, selected based on seasonality and rarity, offering visitors an opportunity to appreciate the importance of preserving the diverse vegetation of Baegunsan. Surrounding the museum are various attractions such as Baegunsan Natural Recreation Forest, Baegunsan Healing Forest, Gwangyang Wood Culture Experience Center, Barefoot Loess Trail, and Doseon Guksa Village, all of which pique the interest of visitors.

Baegunsan Natural Recreation Forest, where the museum is located, is a forest recreation area equipped with 27 buildings housing 43 rooms, 4 caravans, 55 campsites, and 23 caravan sites (auto camping sites), making it an optimal vacation destination frequented by many tourists. The Healing Forest offers various healing programs tailored to different age groups and professions, while the Gwangyang Wood Culture Experience Center provides woodworking experiences and a wood playground, among other programs.

The walking trails and Barefoot Loess Trail within the recreation forest are very popular among visitors, and by participating in the forest interpretation program, visitors can learn in detail about the diverse vegetation of Baegunsan. At Doseon Guksa Village, about 1 km from the museum, visitors can enjoy a variety of hands-on experiences such as making Injeolmi (rice cake), traditional handmade tofu, plum Gangjeong (sweet rice snack), Korean painting on fans, and natural dyeing.

By linking the museum with these various nearby tourist resources, significant economic ripple effects across various sectors are expected. The city plans to promote the value of forest resources and develop the Baegunsan Forest Museum into a space where citizens and tourists can connect with nature.

The city will continue to develop various exhibition and experience programs, including special exhibitions related to forests, the Baegunsan photo contest, a forest protection poster drawing competition, and film screenings in the third exhibition hall, to establish the Baegunsan Forest Museum as a central destination for forest cultural tourism where experience, education, and culture coexist.

Mayor Jung Inhwa said, "I hope the Baegunsan Forest Museum will become a space where nature and culture coexist, going beyond a simple exhibition hall," and added, "It will become an important hub for spreading the value of ecological resources and advancing forest culture."