Imsil-gun Accelerates Ecotourism Development Around Okjeongho Lake

[Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Nosik] Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk, is accelerating the development of eco-tourism around Okjeongho Lake ahead of the opening of the suspension bridge to Bungeo Island next month.

The county announced on the 16th that it expects many tourists from across the country to visit once the Okjeongho suspension bridge opens, and is developing the entrance area, including Yosan Park in Ipseok-ri, Unam-myeon, into a tourist attraction.

With budget support from the Jeonbuk Eastern Region Development Project, the county is constructing a tourist resource project around Yosan Park, including a roundabout shaped like a fish, and building a suspension bridge connecting Yosan Park and Bungeo Island.

In anticipation of many tourists visiting with the opening of the suspension bridge, the county has completed the alignment improvement of Local Road No. 749 and is creating a spacious parking lot for about 600 vehicles.

Traffic measures are also being prepared to minimize inconvenience for tourists visiting the Ipseok-ri parking lot and Yosan Park.

For pedestrians, the county is burying utility poles around Yosan Park to allow visitors to fully enjoy the natural scenery of Okjeongho Lake and is promoting the construction of a deck road for pedestrians.

Additionally, a water supply system is being installed on Bungeo Island, which previously used groundwater, to provide tourists with safe and clean water through efficient management of water quality and quantity.

Okjeongho Lake has been a symbol of the hardships of submerged residents since the construction of the Seomjin River Dam in 1965 and was a major obstacle to regional development after being designated as a water source protection area in 1999.

However, since the inauguration of County Governor Shim Min during the 6th local government term, the water source protection designation was lifted in 2015 for 70% of the county’s water area, which covers the entire lake surface.

The county has been focusing on the Seomjin River Eco-Museum project through the 6th, 7th, and 8th local government terms, and Okjeongho Lake is rapidly emerging as the "Treasure Island of Jeollabuk-do" and a top tourist destination.

With the opening of the 420-meter suspension bridge to Bungeo Island, a path will open to the mysterious island that had only been viewed from afar until now.

The county has developed Bungeo Island, which spans about 20,000 pyeong (approximately 66,115 square meters), into an ecological park where flowers and trees harmonize throughout all four seasons.

The county, which has begun maintenance of the area in time for the suspension bridge opening, plans to hold a completion ceremony around the 22nd of next month.

In the evening, visitors will be able to enjoy a new attraction with nightscape lighting around the Okjeongho suspension bridge and Yosan Park, providing a safe and distinctive experience of Bungeo Island.

Office workers who cannot visit during weekday daytime hours will be able to visit at night on weekdays, increasing tourist satisfaction and positively impacting the commercial district around Okjeongho Lake.

County Governor Shim Min said, “With the opening of the Okjeongho suspension bridge symbolizing the Seomjin River Renaissance, we expect many tourists from across the country to flock to the county like clouds. We will develop the Yosan Park area into a local healing spot loved by residents and tourists alike, making it a symbolic place of tourism in Imsil that greatly contributes to the local economy through attracting tourists.”

Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Nosik baekok@asiae.co.kr

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