The number of visitors to Suncheon Bay and its adjunct garden in South Jeolla Province reached 7.78 million in 2023, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said last week. The sudden allure was attributed to a garden expo held from April to October. The expo itself drew a whopping 9.8 million visitors over the period.
Designated as a Ramsar wetland site in 2006, the 28-square-kilometer pristine natural habitat, especially famous for its vast field of reeds swaying in the autumnal breeze, offers weary travelers a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life.
With its ecological significance, the scenic wetland was also included in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List in 2021. Some 40,000 endangered migratory birds from over 45 different species flock there during the winter months.
Amusement park Everland was the second-most-popular attraction with 5.88 million visitors, followed by multi-purpose convention center KINTEX in Ilsan (5.84 million), Gyeongbokgung Palace (5.58 million), Lotte World (5.19 million), and the National Museum of Korea (4.18 million).
