Namsa Yedamchon in Sancheong Selected as One of the "Top 20 Star Villages"

Designated Through Expert Evaluation and Public Voting
Among Over 1,200 Rural Experience and Recreation Villages Nationwide

Namsa Yedamchon, the first village in South Korea to be designated as the "Most Beautiful Village," has been selected as one of the "Top 20 Star Villages" chosen directly by the public.

According to Sancheong County, South Gyeongsang Province, on August 25, Namsa Yedamchon in Danseong-myeon has been designated as one of the Top 20 Star Villages by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

The Star Village initiative, launched for the first time this year, aims to discover villages that have unique characteristics and resources and employ differentiated strategies, thereby revitalizing the rural economy.

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This selection, which targeted over 1,200 rural experience and recreation villages, was conducted through evaluations by a panel of experts and an online public vote.

Namsa Yedamchon received high marks for its use of unique local resources, the originality and distinctiveness of its experience programs, the quality of accommodations and meals, storytelling, and its connection with other tourism resources.

In particular, it is significant that the excellence of Namsa Yedamchon's traditional and historical heritage, as well as its diverse experience events utilizing local specialties, has been officially recognized.

Namsa Yedamchon, the first village in South Korea to be named the most beautiful, is known as a living museum where elegant hanok houses and stone walls blend harmoniously.

Since being designated as a rural experience and recreation village in 2011, it has attracted about 65,000 visitors annually with a variety of traditional cultural experience programs, including hanbok experiences, natural dyeing workshops, and herbal foot baths.

Additionally, with the launch of the "Remind Youth, Remind Wedding" rural creative tour project, selected as a contest project this year, the village now offers premium travel packages that provide the excitement and emotion of youth through traditional wedding ceremonies and local tourism experiences.

County Governor Lee Seunghwa stated, "The selection of Namsa Yedamchon as a Star Village is the result of the joint efforts of the residents and the county government. We will continue to strengthen traditional cultural experience programs and actively support and promote Namsa Yedamchon so that it can become a leading rural tourism destination representing Korea."