Development of Stay-Type Tourism Products with Korail and the Tourism Association
Full-Scale Launch of Haenam Station-Centered Tourism Belt
Haenam County in South Jeolla Province is taking active steps to promote stay-type tourism ahead of the opening of its new railway line. The county has announced plans to collaborate with the Korea Tourism Association and Korail Tourism Development to jointly develop and market railway-based tourism products, with the goal of revitalizing the local economy and attracting more residents.
On July 16, Haenam County announced that it had signed a three-way memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the county office’s main conference room, attended by County Governor Myung Hyun-gwan, Korea Tourism Association President Seo Won-seok, and Korail Tourism Development CEO Kwon Baek-shin, among others.
Haenam County signed a business agreement with the Korea Tourism Association and Korail Tourism Development to revitalize the local economy. Photo by Haenam County
This agreement was initiated to establish a systematic plan for tourism linkage as Haenam prepares to receive its first railway line with the opening of the Boseong-Imseong railway section and the newly constructed Haenam Station in Banggye-ri, Gyeokok-myeon, scheduled to open in September. Under the agreement, the three organizations will leverage their respective resources and expertise to jointly plan and operate attractive stay-type tourism products that connect Haenam’s tourism assets with the railway infrastructure. They will also cooperate on nationwide promotional and marketing activities to attract tourists.
In particular, the parties plan to jointly develop tourism train products utilizing Haenam Station and to enhance accessibility by activating railway-based transportation. They will focus on discovering sustainable tourism models by combining Korail Tourism Development’s operational know-how with the academic advisory capabilities of the Korea Tourism Association. Alongside the signing ceremony, the “Haenam Tourism Revitalization Forum Utilizing Haenam Station” and a familiarization tour were held over two days, July 15 and 16, providing opportunities for practical discussion and on-site inspection.
The forum featured keynote presentations and expert panel discussions on topics such as “Strategies for Revitalizing Haenam Tourism Using Haenam Station” and “Building Tourism Content Linked to Railway Infrastructure.” The familiarization tour was attended by more than 50 participants from the tourism academia and travel industry, who visited major tourist attractions and participated in hands-on activities in Haenam.
Governor Myung stated, “This agreement will mark a new turning point for tourism in Haenam,” adding, “We will do our utmost to provide great satisfaction to tourists through immersive train travel products and stay-type content, and to inject new vitality into the local economy.”
Meanwhile, the Boseong-Imseong railway is a key route connecting Yeongam, Haenam, Gangjin, Jangheung, and Boseong in the central-southern Namhaean region. Construction began in 2003, and the line is set to open at the end of September, nearly 20 years later. Haenam Station is a newly built, single-story structure with a total floor area of approximately 660 square meters. When the electrification of the Gyeongjeon Line is completed in 2030, direct service to Busan will become possible, positioning Haenam Station as a new gateway for tourism in the region.
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