Wonju City in Gangwon Province will conduct a pilot run of the Bangok-Gumdae tourist train at Bangok Station at 1:00 p.m. on October 19, and will also hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the Tworigul Tunnel. Through this event, the city aims to check the progress of the Bangok-Gumdae Tourism Revitalization Project together with citizens and share the significance of the initiative.
The Bangok-Gumdae Tourism Revitalization Project, with a total budget of 95.4 billion won, is a core initiative to transform the decommissioned Jungang Line section from Bangok Station to Chiak Station into a tourism resource and establish Wonju’s eastern region as a tourism hub.
The tourist train, carrying passengers for the first time, will depart from Bangok Station and run the entire 6.8-kilometer section to the entrance of Tworigul Tunnel in Gumdae-ri. The city plans to use this pilot run, held to commemorate the groundbreaking of Tworigul Tunnel, to verify the train’s safety and gather feedback from local residents, university students, and various other groups.
Meanwhile, the Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation and the Korea Tourism Organization will open their outdoor parking lots to visitors for this event. This is part of the financial business agreements signed with Wonju City in April and May, and is expected to serve as a model case for cooperation between local governments and relocated public institutions.
Won Kangsoo, Mayor of Wonju, stated, "The Bangok-Gumdae Tourism Revitalization Project is a key project for tourism, culture, and leisure in the eastern region," adding, "Beyond simple tourism development, we will create a virtuous cycle that provides tangible benefits to the local economy by linking the Seogwansan Grand Valley in the western region with the historical and cultural assets of the old downtown."
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