Celebrating Muju's Selection as a 'UN Tourism Best Tourism Village'
Muju County in North Jeolla Province hosted a familiarization tour (fam tour) on November 6 and 7, inviting more than 30 guests, including travel writers and travel agency representatives active in Japan.
According to the county on the 7th, the fam tour participants plan to promote Muju through their own social media channels and travel-specialized platforms after their Muju tour.
This program was organized to celebrate Muju's selection as a 'UN Tourism Best Tourism Village.' It featured hands-on experiences of Muju's natural, cultural, and culinary heritage, such as making kimchi, participating in 'Muju Anseong Nakhwa Nori' (a traditional firework performance recognized as an intangible cultural asset of North Jeolla Province), and hiking the 'Eosagil Trail' in Deogyusan National Park, all of which received a positive response.
In particular, the 'kimchi-making' event held in Mupung-myeon, a highland cabbage cultivation area, offered participants a chance to experience the communal spirit embedded in Korea's representative food culture, kimjang, and to understand the essence of K-Food. It also showcased the unique appeal of local travel experiences shared with residents.
Yoshi Yuki commented, "When I think of Korea, kimchi comes to mind first, so it was even more special to make kimchi myself in Mupung-myeon, which is renowned as one of the best cabbage-producing areas. I filmed the entire process, from ingredient preparation to fermentation, and I can't wait to share it with friends who have been waiting for updates."
Yasuda Yoshiko said, "The Eosagil Trail in Deogyusan, where I could feel the essence of Korea's autumn, and the mesmerizing night scenery at Nakhwa Nori were so beautiful that words cannot describe them. I truly felt that this is indeed a world-class tourism village, as recognized globally."
This fam tour was not limited to short-term tourism promotion. Its main focus was to lay the foundation for ongoing local cultural exchange between Korea and Japan. Muju plans to continue its efforts to protect local resources, promote resident coexistence, and diversify tourism through international exchanges.
Meanwhile, the 'Best Tourism Village' designation recognizes villages around the world that set exemplary standards for sustainable tourism and community development among lesser-known destinations.
The county has been recognized as a prime example of Korean local travel, aiming to become a 'healing travel village where humans and nature coexist, and a beautiful environmental city enjoyed by future generations,' based on its pristine natural environment (such as Hyangrosan Natural Recreation Forest, Namdaecheon Stream, and the firefly protection area), traditional cultural assets (including Hanpungnu Pavilion and Muju Hyanggyo Confucian School), and major tourism content like the Muju Firefly Festival and Muju Mountain Film Festival.
In addition, Deogyusan National Park, the snow-covered peak of Hyangjeokbong, Muju Gucheondong Valley, Taekwondowon, Bandi Land, and the Meoru Wine Cave have all established themselves as leading tourist attractions in Muju County, drawing domestic and international visitors throughout all four seasons.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
