Muan-gun, Hoisan Baengnyeonji Four-Season Tourist Attraction 'Leap'

Preventing Slip Safety Accidents for Tourists... Non-Slip Installation Completed

Reborn with Facility Diversification... Transformed into a Healing Space

Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do is being reborn with a new look through facility diversification to transform Ilro-eup Hoisan Baengnyeonji from a single-season lotus festival site into a year-round tourist destination where visitors can stay.
Panoramic view of Hoisan Baengnyeonji (Photo by Muan-gun)

[Muan＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Oh Hwan-joo] Hoesan Baengnyeonji in Illo-eup, Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Kim San) is the largest natural habitat of white lotus in East Asia. Spanning 330,000㎡, it is home to over 30 species of lotus flowers including white lotus, water lilies, thorny water lilies, whygae lotuses, gae lotuses, red lotuses, baby water lilies, yellow water lilies, and water lilies, as well as more than 50 species of aquatic and riparian plants, making it a representative tourist attraction in South Korea.

Since 1997, during the annual White Lotus Grand Festival held every August, the pond is filled with lush flower buds, creating a spectacular scene.

Muan-gun is revitalizing Hoesan Baengnyeonji with diversified facilities so that tourists can visit throughout all four seasons.

First, with an investment of 3.3 billion KRW, a 2,418㎡ local food hall was completed. The first floor houses a convenience store and restaurant, while the second floor is designed for various exhibitions and experience centers. Additionally, flower gardens featuring zinnias, roses, chrysanthemums, and more were created to offer new seasonal attractions to visitors.

Next, the floating glass greenhouse within Hoesan Baengnyeonji was transformed into a lotus caf? and a resting area for tourists. The first floor serves as a caf? and restroom, and the second floor is a botanical garden resting area welcoming visitors.

In December last year, with a budget of 42 million KRW, a smart greenhouse experience center for aquatic plants was established. Covering 491㎡, it features environmental control facilities managed via smartphones and continuous internal and external monitoring. Additionally, 500 strawberry plants were planted.

Non-slip material was installed on the deck at Hoisan Baengnyeonji. (Photo by Muan-gun)

In particular, last month, considering the safety of tourists visiting Hoesan Baengnyeonji, non-slip surfaces were installed on steep slopes, stairs, and decks.

This non-slip project was funded by Na Gwang-guk, a Jeonnam Provincial Assembly member (Samhyang, Illo, Cheonggye, Mongtan), to prevent slip accidents among residents and tourists strolling in the area.

An Baek-hoon, head of the Hoesan Baengnyeonji Office, stated, “With the opening of the caf? and local food hall, we aim to enhance the experience by planting various flowers and trees such as roses, hydrangeas, and wave petunias, making Baengnyeonji a healing space that tourists can always enjoy.”

Governor Kim San said, “I hope residents and tourists, who have endured difficult times due to COVID-19, find rest and comfort at Baengnyeonji,” adding, “We will continue to develop Hoesan Baengnyeonji into the nation’s first inland waterside botanical garden through arboretum projects.”

He also said, “We will create a safe Muan that attracts tourists year-round,” and added, “Non-slip surfaces will be installed not only at Hoesan Baengnyeonji but also along the mudflat ecological park and Namak waterside park walking trails to prioritize the safety of residents and visitors to Muan.”

Meanwhile, Muan-gun announced on its official website on the 10th a legislative notice regarding an administrative reorganization plan that separates the Culture and Tourism Division into Tourism and Culture & Sports Divisions, integrates the Hoesan Baengnyeonji Office into the Tourism Division, and reallocates functions and personnel to revitalize Muan’s representative tourist sites, including Hoesan Baengnyeonji, to attract visitors throughout all four seasons.

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