[Interview] Mokpo Mayor Kim Jong-sik: "Confirmed as a Tourism Hub City, We Will Open the Era of 10 Million Tourists"

Mayor Kim Jong-sik is holding a press conference on the 28th of last month after being selected for the Tourism Hub City Development Project. (Photo by Mokpo City)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] [Editor's Note] Recently, the government selected and announced ‘Tourism Hub Cities.’ The government's intention behind Tourism Hub Cities is to disperse tourists who had been concentrated in the metropolitan area to local regions. In Jeollanam-do, Mokpo was the only city to break through fierce competition and be named a Tourism Hub City. We spoke with Mayor Kim Jong-sik of Mokpo to hear about the changes that will come to Mokpo in the future.

▲ The confirmation of Mokpo as a Tourism Hub City was made at the start of 2020. How do you feel about this?

= I am very pleased to be able to share such good news with the local residents at the beginning of the new year. I want to share this joy with all the residents.

The selection as a Tourism Hub City, which will be a groundbreaking turning point for Mokpo tourism, is the result that fully reflects the support of local residents and their desire for regional development. It will serve as a catalyst to open the era of 10 million tourists in Mokpo.

I thank everyone who helped deliver the joyful news of the confirmation of the four major Tourism Hub Cities, and I promise to create a wonderful global tourism city, Mokpo.

A bird's-eye view of the 30-ri Beach Flavor Road project along the coastline of Mokpo Maritime University at Hadang Peace Square (Photo by Mokpo City)

▲ What exactly is a ‘Tourism Hub City’ in South Korea?

= 80% of foreign tourists in our country are concentrated in Seoul. A Tourism Hub City is a project to nurture cities with unique regional tourism brands and the potential to leap into glocal tourism cities into world-class tourist destinations.

To promote the spread of foreign tourists from Seoul and the metropolitan area to local regions, President Moon Jae-in announced this directly at the expanded National Tourism Strategy Meeting in April last year.

This is the largest-scale project in the tourism sector, investing 100 billion KRW over five years in one hub city. This time, one international tourism city, Busan, and four regional tourism hub cities including Mokpo, Jeonju, Gangneung, and Andong were selected.

▲ What strengths did Mokpo emphasize?

= All the leading cities in tourism nationwide applied for this competition. As a result of the first screening, nine cities including Yeosu, Boryeong, and Gyeongju were selected, and after the second on-site inspection and the final third screening, four cities were chosen.

The cities that passed the first round were already famous cities recognized for tourism domestically and internationally. As soon as the government plan was announced last year, we began preparing for the competition.

We formed a separate TF team and prepared a project plan aligned with the government's intentions and purpose. For over a year, we worked hard to create differentiated content essential for selection as a Tourism Hub City and special resources that could give us a competitive edge.

We steadily carried out projects that could highlight Mokpo’s unique values such as the historical value of the autonomous open port, well-preserved modern historical and cultural assets, delicious local cuisine, the gateway to the Dadohae (Sea of Many Islands), and the geopolitical key point where the ocean and continent meet.

We focused on creating tourism resources differentiated from other regions in advance, such as the ‘Modern Historical and Cultural Space,’ ‘City of Taste,’ and hosting the ‘Island Day.’

Based on these, we actively appealed to Korea’s best modern historical and cultural assets and content, the city of taste, the city of arts, and slow city resources that differentiate us from other regions.

Also, we increased the effectiveness of the project by linking the regeneration of the old downtown with the Tourism Hub City, and actively promoted expansion through cooperation with nearby cities and counties based on the power of the Southwest region mutual growth council.

When Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Yang-woo announced the selection, he said, “Mokpo was highly evaluated for its potential and utilization plans of regional specialized resources such as modern historical culture, food culture content, and islands,” which perfectly matched our strategy.

▲ What is the significance of being selected as a regional Tourism Hub City?

= South Korea’s tourism, which had been concentrated in specific areas such as the metropolitan area and Jeju, has reached a turning point.

The selection of Mokpo means that the Southwest region centered on Mokpo, along with Busan in the east of the Korean Peninsula, will become a pillar of South Korea’s tourism. It will enable the true balanced development of tourism in South Korea.

Mokpo is becoming a genuine starting point of the West Coast area on the H-shaped New Economic Map of the Korean Peninsula.

Additionally, Mokpo is now promoting tourism industry development as a national project following the exemption from preliminary feasibility study for the seafood export complex and designation as a national energy industry convergence complex.

With the foundation established for fostering three major future strategic industries?tourism, seafood, and renewable energy industries?a new turning point for regional development has been created.

▲ What are the future plans for fostering the regional Tourism Hub City?

= By 2024, we aim to develop Mokpo into a ‘retro-future, romantic tourism city’ where the past, present, and future harmoniously coexist, attracting over 15 million tourists.

We plan to nurture the modern historical and cultural space into a mecca for walking tours. Mokpo’s old downtown, called the ‘roofless museum,’ has a unique atmosphere and scenery, making it a very attractive place.

The old downtown is directly connected from Mokpo Station, allowing visitors to walk to the modern historical and cultural space, the marine cable car, Yudal Mountain, Samhakdo Island, Gatbawi Cultural and Arts Town, and Peace Plaza.

Along the coastline from Hadang Peace Plaza to Mokpo Maritime University, a 30-ri (approximately 12 km) beach food road will be created, and in connection with this, Mokpo will be developed into a world-class walking travel mecca.

In particular, Peace Plaza is preparing for a major transformation into a complex cultural tourism and marine leisure hub where people can rest and enjoy themselves.

By 2021, with a total project cost of 5 billion KRW, structural improvements will be promoted to enhance safety and space utilization while expanding convenience facilities, rebirthing it as the best urban waterfront space in the Southwest region.

Also, the Dancing Sea Fountain will be transformed into a complex cultural and artistic content. By upgrading the fountain facilities, the sea fountain show will be expanded, a marine stage will be installed for cultural and artistic performances, and a spectacular scene will be created with weekly fountain shows accompanied by marine fireworks displays.

Samhakdo Island will be developed into a family-friendly theme garden blooming with flowers all year round. Additionally, a sightseeing cruise ship allowing visitors to enjoy the romantic harbor atmosphere will operate, and a harbor-themed pojangmacha (street food tent) full of romance will be run.

At Gatbawi Cultural and Arts Town, the Global Mokpo Museum Wharf will be established as a tourist attraction by creating an artistic sky bridge connecting cultural infrastructure facilities. We are also preparing to share Mokpo’s flavors with the world.

We will develop tourism resource content such as the International Slow Food Festival, globalization of the ‘9 Flavors,’ development of new and single-menu dishes, and food experiences, making Mokpo a global city of taste competing with the world’s gourmet cities.

This year, we will immediately establish a basic plan for the overall tourism sector and carry out essential projects to improve the tourism environment and guidance system.

Yudalsan Mountain Panorama (Photo by Mokpo City)

▲ Can we expect co-growth with neighboring regions?

= The main purpose of selecting Tourism Hub Cities is to foster regional tourism hubs and enhance the tourism competitiveness of surrounding areas together.

In this selection, Mokpo received good evaluations for its expansion potential through linkage and cooperation with neighboring regions. During the final third presentation screening, cooperation and support messages from nine nearby local government heads were delivered via video, which was very persuasive.

There are many competitive tourism resources in each region, such as Sinan Angel Bridge, Muan Lotus Festival, and Admiral Yi Sun-sin relics in Jindo and Haenam.

Linking resources between regions is very important. We will establish a basic plan and, during this process, consult with nearby local governments to derive the best plan for the growth of the entire Southwest region.

▲ What are your plans for this year’s municipal administration and any messages for the citizens?

= The foundation for Mokpo’s future growth engines?three major strategic industries of tourism, seafood, and renewable energy?has been laid since my inauguration.

The tourism industry will be promoted as a national project through the selection as a regional Tourism Hub City, the seafood industry through the establishment of the seafood export complex, and the renewable energy industry through the designation of the national energy convergence complex.

We can now add the power of the nation to the efforts Mokpo City has made on its own so far. Going forward, we will continue to embrace change and innovation without stopping our challenges to move in the right direction toward a greater future.

Mokpo City will continue to challenge boldly with prepared strength and consistent direction toward a greater future, and I ask for much interest and support so that our challenges can lead to tangible results in Mokpo’s development.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.