Gimpo City Makes Hamsang Park Free Starting July 19
First Step Toward Revitalizing Northern Tourism Linking Aegibong and Daemyeong Port
Introducing Contactless Experiences... Diversifying Content with Sunset Gourmet Festa and More
Gimpo City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Byungsoo) is launching a strong initiative to revitalize tourism in its northern region.
On July 16, Mayor Kim Byungsoo of the 8th popularly elected administration announced that, starting July 19, Gimpo Hamsang Park will completely abolish its admission fees and begin full-scale free opening to the public.
This measure is a groundbreaking decision that completely transforms the operational model of Hamsang Park, which has charged admission for 15 years since its opening. It is expected to serve as a catalyst for the creation of a northern tourism ecosystem connecting Aegibong, Daemyeong Port, and the Pyeonghwa Nuri-gil, a key initiative currently being pursued by Gimpo City.
In particular, Gimpo City plans not only to eliminate fees, but also to introduce mobile-based content and photo spots, as well as other non-face-to-face experiential features to enhance visitor satisfaction. At the same time, the city will significantly strengthen connections between Hamsang Park and nearby tourism resources such as Daemyeong Port Fish Market, Aegibong Peace Eco Park, and Pyeonghwa Nuri-gil.
Gimpo Hamsang Park is a themed park where visitors can view and experience a variety of real military equipment, including the decommissioned Navy landing ship "Unbongham," a maritime patrol aircraft, and amphibious vehicles. However, in recent years, the park has seen a decline in visitors due to aging facilities and accumulated operational fatigue.
Accordingly, Gimpo City has been working to make the park free of charge, both to expand citizens' leisure opportunities and to revitalize the stagnant tourism sector. Following revisions to relevant ordinances, this policy will be officially implemented starting this month.
Along with free admission, Gimpo City will introduce mobile-based content and photo spots, and will expand connections between Hamsang Park and nearby tourism resources such as Daemyeong Port Fish Market, Pyeonghwa Nuri-gil, and Aegibong Peace Eco Park. The goal is to transform the area into a tourism hub where visitors are encouraged to stay longer.
In addition, to accommodate increased tourism demand during the summer, the park's summer operating hours will be extended by one hour, from the current closing time of 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., from May through August. To further enhance visitor convenience and operational stability, the park will designate every Monday as a regular closing day, continuing efforts to improve the visitor experience.
Furthermore, a variety of tourism content will be offered, including the Sunset Gourmet Festa, SNS certification events, and a Marine Corps Festival. These initiatives aim to increase local business revenue by attracting more tourists and to establish a sustainable structure for mutual growth.
Additionally, Hamsang Park has been selected as a "2025 Small but Promising Tourist Destination" by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization. Gimpo City was also chosen for Gyeonggi Province's "Northern Gyeonggi Culinary Tourism Promotion Project," and is currently implementing the "Gimpo, Slow Gourmet - Healing Gourmet Tour Project." Through this initiative, the city will develop culinary tourism content that combines Daemyeong Port seafood with local experiential hubs, further accelerating the recovery of the regional tourism ecosystem centered on Hamsang Park.
Mayor Kim Byungsoo stated, "Making Hamsang Park free of charge is not simply about eliminating fees; it is a turning point and catalyst for revitalizing and growing Daemyeong Port and Gimpo tourism as a whole. Following Aegibong, which has become a world-renowned attraction, the transformation of Daemyeong Port is expected to become a major driving force for Gimpo as a tourism city. Gimpo City will continue to pursue concrete changes to make Gimpo a place where people want to stay and want to return."
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