A Total Investment of 700 Million Won from 2025 to 2027
Baekdudaegan Donghae Salt Road Revitalization Project Underway
Recent Completion of Facility Improvements on Salt Road Course 1
Salt Road Event Scheduled for November
Donghae City in Gangwon Province (Mayor Shim Kyueon) announced on September 22 that it is accelerating efforts to transform the Baekdudaegan Donghae Salt Road into a prominent ecological and green tourism attraction by investing a total of approximately 700 million won over three years, from 2025 to 2027.
Recently, tourism trends have shifted toward enjoying healthy leisure, such as "healing" and "wellness," drawing attention to improvements in walking trail environments and trekking events to promote slow travel.
Accordingly, the city has recently completed facility improvements for Section 1 of the Salt Road, which, despite its outstanding ecological value, was in urgent need of environmental maintenance due to neglected trees and damaged safety facilities along the established trail.
With the peak autumn hiking season underway, the city has established a safe and pleasant hiking environment by refurbishing trailhead and trail section signboards, replacing aging ropes, repairing decks, and removing overgrown trees.
In addition, the Donghae Culture and Tourism Foundation will host the "Walking the Path of the Past - Salt Road Exploration" event on November 1, 8, and 15-a total of three times-to assess the potential for commercializing the Salt Road as a tourism product.
The event will start from the large parking lot at Sinhung Village Hall in Samhwa-dong and follow a course that passes Yongso Waterfall, Toad Rock and Jangsu Gonggitdol Rock, and the site of an old tavern, taking approximately two hours and thirty minutes.
Participants will be able to enjoy leisure, healing, and the beauty of autumn while exploring ecological resources, and can also take part in a salt-carrying experience program to get a sense of the historical traces of the past.
Previously, from May to June, the Donghae Culture and Tourism Foundation has been working to vitalize the Salt Road by operating 12 regular and special programs in Section 3, which includes the Mureung Byeolyucheonji Cheongok Lake and Geumgok Lake, as well as the Lavender Garden trail.
In particular, in June, the foundation enhanced program synergy by linking it with the Mureung Byeolyucheonji Lavender Festival. Around 300 citizens and tourists who participated in the event enjoyed healing, relaxation, and a refreshing atmosphere as they strolled with a docent through the lavender garden and along the emerald-colored lake.
The Donghae Salt Road is a mountain pass along the Baekdudaegan that was historically used to transport salt purchased at the Bukpyeong Market to the Yeongseo region, including the Jeongseon Imge Market. It consists of three courses: Course 1, the "Baekdudaegan Ecological Trail" known as the "Silk Path Soaked in Salt Sweat"; Course 2, the "Igiryeong Debaji Forest Trail," called the "Windy Debaji Path"; and Course 3, the "Old Geumgok-dong Road," referred to as the "Healing Path Embracing the Lake."
Lee Jinhwa, head of the Tourism Division, stated, "With the intense summer heat subsiding and autumn approaching, hiking for leisure and healing in the pleasant natural environment is becoming increasingly popular. Moving forward, we plan to further promote the excellence of Donghae City's ecological tourism and invigorate mountain tourism by expanding convenience and rest facilities along the Donghae Salt Road and organizing familiarization tours in collaboration with the Korea Domestic Travel Agency Association."
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