Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok: "Damyang as a Hub for Humanities and Ecotourism"

Jeonnam Province Provides 555.8 Billion Won in National and Provincial Funds for Namdo Garden Development Over the Past 4 Years

[Damyang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Jeonnam Province announced on the 8th that it is fostering Damyang, designated as a ‘Humanities Education and Traditional Garden Special Zone’ and a treasure trove of lyrical literature, into a leisurely urban suburban humanities ecological tourism hub.

To this end, various supports are being provided in areas such as the construction of the National Korean Garden Culture Center, creation of Namdo gardens, expansion of Damyang Historical and Cultural Park, cultural tourism facilities, road widening and expansion to improve traffic safety and accessibility, and urban regeneration New Deal projects focused on cultural ecology.

In the past four years up to this year, national and provincial government support has reached 555.8 billion won for about 20 projects.

Governor Kim Young-rok of Jeonnam plans to revitalize the stay-type tourism industry in Damyang, an ecological city rich in humanities and garden assets, through such support.

Ahead of Governor Kim’s dialogue with Damyang residents on the 12th, we look into the current status of joint projects between Jeonnam Province and Damyang County.

◆ Many famous spots such as Soswaewon, Sikyeongjeong, and Songgangjeong

◆ Development of garden industry including Korean Garden Culture Center

◆ Tourism revitalization linked to lyrical literature and ecology

Jeonnam Province plans to utilize Damyang’s abundant and sustainable ecological and cultural resources as humanities tourism content that allows visitors to enjoy healing in leisure.

The National Korean Garden Culture Center, secured last December, is scheduled to be built by 2023.

It is a specialized institution to integrate management of traditional gardens scattered throughout the area, such as Soswaewon and Sikyeongjeong, Myeonangjeong, Songgangjeong, Myeongokheon, Doksujeong, and Gwaneojeong, representative gardens of the mid-Joseon Dynasty, and to foster the garden industry.

With an investment of 20 billion won, it will be equipped with a research building, education rooms, greenhouses, test fields, practice sites, and exhibition gardens. It is expected to become infrastructure for globalizing Korean gardens.

The Namdo garden creation project is also underway.

Over seven years until 2022, 6.3 billion won will be invested to create gardens themed on the Four Gentlemen (sagunja) such as chrysanthemum fields, plum blossom hills, and wild orchid gardens linked to humanities around the bamboo forest area of Juknokwon. Connected with already established gardens like Soswaewon, Juknokwon, Gwanbangjerim, and Metasequoia Road, it is expected to become a pillar for revitalizing ecological tourism.

◆ Strengthening accessibility through road widening and expansion

◆ Promotion of ‘Cultural Ecology’ urban regeneration New Deal

Jeonnam Province is also promoting road widening and expansion projects on local roads between Goseo IC and Gwangju Dam, national roads between Damyang Goseo and Daedeok, and local roads between Mujung and Sunchang, as well as improving road facilities between Damyang and Gokseong to enhance transportation convenience and tourist site accessibility.

Along with this, urban regeneration New Deal projects aimed at revitalizing the depressed old downtown and boosting the tourism industry to increase residents’ income are being carried out, including ‘Designing a New Millennium through Cultural Ecology Road,’ ‘Singing a New Millennium at Damyang Millennium Cultural Plaza,’ and various support projects such as fostering the Damyang Jeoji Local Hanwoo brand and convergence industries.

Governor Kim Young-rok said, “Damyang is rich in cultural ecological resources such as traditional gardens including Soswaewon, Myeonangjeong, Sikyeongjeong, and Songgangjeong, lyrical literature based on garden culture like Myeonangjeongga, Juknokwon?the second provincial garden in Jeonnam?and Metasequoia Road. Geographically adjacent to the metropolitan city of Gwangju, we will actively support its growth as a suburban cultural ecological tourism hub.”

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