Gyeongnam Province announced on August 24 that a total of 775 tourist attractions in the region were selected through a public vote as part of the "100×100 Project for Discovering Korea's Attractions," organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization.
The "100×100 Project for Discovering Korea's Attractions" is a public participation initiative that identifies 100 travel themes across eight categories based on recommendations from 100 travel experts. In this evaluation, Gyeongnam's resources were evenly represented across the eight categories from 18 cities and counties.
In specific categories, Miryang's Ice Valley ranked first in the nature and ecology category under the theme "Air Conditioner in the Forest and Valley," while Sancheong's Dongui Yaksun Gwan topped the culinary category with the theme "Vegan Cuisine." Additionally, Hamyang's Jeseokbong (Climbing to the Top of the Stairs) excelled in the architecture category, and Hamyang's "Great Whale Swimming in Jirisan" (Zero Waste Road) led in the lifestyle category, showcasing Gyeongnam's tourism potential.
Despite the impressive selection of 775 attractions, concerns have been raised about Gyeongnam Province's follow-up actions. According to the Gyeongnam Tourism Policy Division, the province has not yet established a "selection and concentration" strategy or detailed follow-up marketing plans to leverage these extensive tourism resources for actual economic revitalization or sustainable tourism.
A provincial official stated, "We plan to utilize the selected attractions in future promotions for other regions," but acknowledged that specific follow-up measures, including a focused strategy and guidelines, have not yet been thoroughly reviewed.
Recently, domestic and international tourists seeking alternatives to Seoul have begun to explore Gyeongnam's hidden small cities. This trend presents a crucial opportunity to attract visitors through connections with KTX and public transportation networks. However, there is a noticeable lack of systematic master plans or improvements to transportation and accommodation infrastructure at the metropolitan level.
Particularly for nature and ecology-focused attractions like Miryang's Ice Valley and Hamyang's Jeseokbong, the potential for increased visitor numbers raises concerns about environmental degradation and safety incidents, making measures to prevent over-tourism essential. However, there are currently no administrative guidelines in place to address these issues.
An industry expert remarked, "It is not enough to simply distribute press releases about the numerous selections; the 775 resources need to be reorganized by grade and theme. Gyeongnam Province must quickly establish a concrete roadmap that balances attracting actual visitors with environmental protection."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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