Commemorative Plaque Presented to the 500,000th Visitor and Appointment of Announcer Kim Jin as Promotional Ambassador
An Average of 32,000 Monthly Visitors... Expanding Tourism Infrastructure and Enhancing Competitiveness
Mayor Kim Byung-su: "We Hope Many Tourists Will Visit Aegibong"
Aegibong Peace Ecological Park, a representative global tourist destination of the Republic of Korea, celebrated surpassing 500,000 visitors three years after its opening on the 29th, as well as its selection for the Korea Spatial Culture Awards and Gyeonggi-do Unique Venue, with a special cultural event called "Oh! Gam! (The Emotion of Surpassing 500,000)." Citizens and tourists visiting Aegibong expressed their satisfaction in participating in this meaningful event, celebrating Aegibong's progress toward becoming a global tourism landmark.
Kim Byung-su, Mayor of Gimpo City, held a special cultural event "Oh! Gam! (The Emotion of Surpassing 500,000)" on the 29th to celebrate the achievement of 500,000 tourists in three years since the opening of Aegibong Peace Ecological Park, as well as its selection for the Korea Spatial Culture Award and Gyeonggi-do Unique Venue. Photo by Gimpo City
According to Gimpo City on the 31st, the event began with a plaque unveiling ceremony commemorating the selection as a Gyeonggi-do Unique Venue (a distinctive meeting place) and the Korea Spatial Culture Awards, followed by the appointment ceremony of the promotional ambassador (announcer Kim Jin), and the presentation of a commemorative plaque to the 500,000th visitor.
The 500,000th visitor who received the commemorative plaque said, "It was a weekend outing with my family, and I am happy to be the 500,000th visitor. As a citizen of Gimpo, I will promote Aegibong Peace Ecological Park, which is becoming a representative tourist attraction of Korea, to those around me and visit often."
Kim Jin, the announcer appointed as the promotional ambassador that day, said, "This is the first place in the border area where North Korea is so clearly visible, and Aegibong is the only one. It used to symbolize sorrow and resentment, but now it seems to be transforming into a space of hope and beauty by overcoming that. As a promotional ambassador, I will work hard to attract visitors from all over the world."
Kim Byung-su, Mayor of Gimpo City, said, "The number of visitors to Aegibong Peace Ecological Park has increased due to night openings and the entry of global cafe brands. We expect to welcome one million visitors as early as the first half of next year. We are preparing to make it a special space representing Gimpo with plenty of sights and activities, so we hope many people will visit."
Mayor Kim Byung-su (right) is appointing announcer Kim Jin as a promotional ambassador. Provided by Gimpo City
In addition, various events, experiential programs, and performances were held as part of a diverse program. However, some events and visitor-targeted activities were scaled down due to the national crisis alert issued because of the spread of wildfires.
Aegibong Peace Ecological Park has recently seen an average of about 32,000 visitors per month, and it is expected that more than 400,000 tourists will visit annually by 2025. Gimpo City is developing the park as a space that offers differentiated attractions and activities from existing border area security tourist sites in preparation for attracting one million visitors, accelerating improvements in landscaping, expanding convenience facilities, and upgrading infrastructure to enhance the viewing environment.
Furthermore, Gimpo City has signed agreements with major tourism project organizations to revitalize the tourism industry centered on Aegibong Peace Ecological Park and is promoting inbound tourism product development to attract foreign visitors. Along with this, the city plans to strengthen its tourism competitiveness by establishing a foundation for attracting overseas tourists through active promotional marketing.
Mayor Kim Byung-su (right) is taking a commemorative photo with the 500,000th tourist family and Lee Gye-hyun, CEO of the Gimpo Cultural Foundation, on the 29th. Provided by Gimpo City
A Gimpo City official stated, "Aegibong Peace Ecological Park is developing beyond the framework of existing security tourism into a complex cultural tourist destination. We will strive to attract more tourists through the development of diverse tourism content and expansion of infrastructure."
Meanwhile, the exhibition of award-winning works from the Korea Tourism Organization’s tourism photo contest and the Aegibong Peace Ecological Park photo exhibition titled "Scenery of Longing, Light of Hope," currently on display at the Aegibong Peace Ecological Park Observatory Open Gallery since the 14th, will continue until April 30.
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