Imsil-gun Launches Premium Branding for 'Okjeongho Water Mist Road'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Nosik] Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk, has begun full-scale efforts to brand the Okjeongho Mulan-gae-gil, a non-face-to-face healing tourist destination gaining attention amid COVID-19, as a representative national ecological trail premium brand of South Korea.

According to Imsil-gun on the 9th, the county established a dedicated organization called the ‘Okjeongho Healing Division’ earlier this year and is focusing on creating the nation’s best national ecological trail, attracting many tourists nationwide.

For the convenience of visitors to the Okjeongho Mulan-gae-gil, the frozen paths during winter are carefully repaired for comfortable walking, and flower paths harmonizing with the Okjeongho waterfront are being created.

With a total project cost investment of 5 billion KRW, the 7.3 km Mulmunhwa Dullegil and the section from Unjong-ri to Unam-ri in Unam-myeon, which have been under development since 2017, are currently being constructed with a goal of completion next year.

Starting next year, an 18 km national ecological trail that circulates around Okjeongho, linked with the already established Dullegil, is planned to be developed.

Feasibility studies and basic plans have been completed, and efforts are accelerating to secure a national budget of 7.5 billion KRW.

The project plan is being meticulously established in accordance with the guidelines for national treasury subsidy projects for national ecological trail development, and after consultations with the Environmental Agency and Jeonbuk Province, the project will be finalized and promoted.

From next year, a total of 89 km of national ecological trails, including the Okjeongho Mulan-gae-gil, Masil-gil, and Dullegil, will also be developed.

The sections will be themed and divided into various courses, unified under the name ‘Okjeongho Mulan-gae-gil,’ highlighting the brand as a national ecological trail.

The Okjeongho Mulan-gae-gil is well known as a healing course where nature harmonizes throughout the four seasons along the waterfront misty waterway.

Starting from Maam-ri bus stop in Unam-myeon, Imsil-gun, the 13 km section to Yukmojeong, Motjigol, and Yongun Village takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

After walking along the waterfront for a while, visitors can take a break in the ecological forest, created last year as part of the Cheonri-gil revitalization project with an investment of 400 million KRW.

The ecological forest features about 5,000 herbaceous plants of 19 species including Dicentra, Lycoris radiata, and Papaver, as well as about 100 trees of 11 species such as Cornus and Styrax, allowing visitors to enjoy a variety of plants.

County Governor Shim Min said, “The Okjeongho Mulan-gae-gil is gaining attention as a healing tourist destination comforting the weary daily lives of urban residents exhausted by COVID-19,” adding, “Through the maintenance of the beautiful Mulan-gae-gil and the creation of the national ecological trail, we will build a reputation as an ecological tourism site attracting many people nationwide.”

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