Facility Safety Inspections and Maintenance Completed
The Okgyeongho Suspension Bridge and Bungeo Island Ecological Park, the representative tourist attractions of Imsil County in North Jeolla Province, will reopen on the 19th.
On the 14th, the county announced that it had completed facility safety inspections and maintenance work, prioritizing the safety of visitors above all else.
Okgyeongho Suspension Bridge and Carp Island Ecological Park, the representative tourist attractions of Imsil County, will reopen on the 19th. Photo by Imsil County
The county has also revamped the environment so that both local residents and tourists can enjoy nature in comfort and safety. At Bungeo Island Ecological Park, a total of 13,945 seasonal flowers of nine varieties-including marigolds, sunflowers, and angelonias-have been planted, and 90 flower boxes are set to be installed.
In particular, Bungeo Island is adorned with vibrant pink blossoms from crape myrtle trees, a symbol of summer, while the metasequoia path is in full bloom with white hydrangeas, allowing visitors to fully enjoy a variety of summer flowers.
Preparations are also underway to enhance visitor convenience. To ensure a pleasant experience on Bungeo Island even during the hot summer weather, cooling fog systems are being installed along the main pathways, and every effort is being made to have them ready for use in time for the reopening.
Meanwhile, since its reopening on March 1 this year, the Okgyeongho Suspension Bridge has attracted approximately 250,000 paying visitors by the end of June. This figure surpasses the roughly 240,000 visitors during the same period last year, and is a significant increase from the 170,000 visitors recorded during the same period in 2023 following its temporary opening in October 2022, marking the highest number of visitors since its opening.
This surge in popularity is attributed to the growing reputation of the Okgyeongho Bungeo Island Ecological Park as a major tourist destination not only in North Jeolla but nationwide. The grandeur of the 420-meter-long Okgyeongho Suspension Bridge and the vibrant, colorful seasonal flowers have attracted visitors through a variety of online and offline channels.
Tourists have been steadily visiting not only on weekends but also on weekdays, clearly demonstrating the popularity of the Okgyeongho Suspension Bridge and Bungeo Island Ecological Park. In October last year, the opening of a local specialty product store and a cafe to address the lack of amenities also contributed to the increase in visitors.
Imsil County Governor Sim Min stated, "Through the reopening of the Okgyeongho Suspension Bridge and Bungeo Island Ecological Park, we will do our utmost to revitalize local tourism and provide a nature-friendly space for relaxation," and added, "We ask for your continued interest and visits."
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