Moksuguk Garden Emerges as a New Tourism Resource
Azaleas, Hydrangeas, Silver Grass, and Snowy Landscapes...
Blooming Flowers in All Four Seasons
Hapcheon County in South Gyeongsang Province successfully concluded the 4th Hwangmaesan Silver Grass Festival, attracting 140,000 visitors during the silver grass blooming season.
The county has laid the foundation for becoming a year-round tourist destination by fostering Moksuguk hydrangeas as a signature summer attraction, following the spring azaleas and autumn silver grass.
With the establishment of the Moksuguk Garden, Hwangmaesan now offers seasonal tourism content: azaleas in spring, Moksuguk hydrangeas in summer, silver grass in autumn, and snowy landscapes in winter. In June, mountain hydrangeas bloom first, signaling the start of summer, followed by the white blossoms of Moksuguk hydrangeas in July and August, which reach their peak through early October.
In particular, starting in October, the Moksuguk hydrangeas turn red as the leaves change color, making them a seasonal summer flower resource that extends into late autumn and draws continued tourism demand due to their changing hues.
During this year’s silver grass festival, the Moksuguk Garden also received an enthusiastic response from visitors, with online reviews stating, "Because of the Moksuguk hydrangeas, I’ll visit Hwangmaesan again next summer." As Moksuguk hydrangeas establish themselves as a new tourism driver for Hwangmaesan, the mountain is becoming a seasonal crossover destination, offering both summer hydrangeas and autumn silver grass, effectively extending the autumn tourism season into the summer.
Currently, Hwangmaesan offers a variety of accommodations, including a forest campground, Byeolkung Camping Site, and private hostels, enabling visitors to enjoy extended stays. With the completion of additional lodging facilities in the Hwangmaesan Green Cultural Experience Zone later this year, the capacity to accommodate tourists is expected to increase further.
In addition, the Hapcheonho Interchange on the Hamyang-Ulsan Expressway, scheduled to open in 2026, is expected to greatly improve accessibility to Hwangmaesan and further support its growth as a year-round tourism hub.
County Governor Kim Yooncheol stated, "The success of the Silver Grass Festival and the discovery of the Moksuguk Garden are the results of creative administration and active participation by local residents," adding, "We will do our best to ensure that Hwangmaesan, with its year-round appeal, becomes a leading stay-type tourist destination in Korea."
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