Gochang Dolmen and Ungok Wetland Selected as 'Ecotourism Sites of the Month'

Published 05 Apr.2024 09:57(KST)

Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do has been selected as the Ministry of Environment's 'Ecotourism Site of the Month' for April for its Dolmen and Ungok Wetland.

According to the county on the 5th, the Ministry of Environment selects one site each month from ecotourism areas nationwide that have natural environments, can link local tourism resources, and operate ecotourism programs, and promotes the selected site intensively as the 'Ecotourism Site of the Month.'

Gochang Ungok Ramsar Wetland. [Photo by Gochang County]

On the 2nd, more than 50 people including Ministry of Environment officials and journalists visited Gochang Dolmen and Ungok Wetland to experience the site firsthand and take on-site photos for focused promotion.

The Gochang Dolmen and Ungok Wetland ecotourism area is a place that holds historical, cultural, and ecological values simultaneously, where visitors can explore the dolmen registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage and the Ungok Wetland registered as a Ramsar Wetland.

In particular, Ungok Wetland was restored to its current pristine wetland state without human interference for over 30 years after a reservoir was created in the 1980s as a cooling water source for the Yeonggwang Nuclear Power Plant.

Currently, a total of about 850 species of wildlife, including endangered animals such as otters and leopard cats, inhabit the area.

Also, Gochang Dolmen is a highly valuable site as it is the only place in the world where table-type, checkerboard-type, and capstone-type dolmens can all be seen.

In April, various ecotourism programs operated by local residents, such as Nordic walking, mulberry leaf tea ceremony experience, silkworm cocoon crafts, and Saturday markets, can be experienced around the Ungok Wetland area.

Oh Mi-sook, head of the Tourism Industry Division of Gochang-gun, said, “We hope that the selection of Dolmen and Ungok Wetland as the Ecotourism Site of the Month will provide an opportunity for more people to enjoy Gochang’s excellent ecological resources and recognize their value. We will continue to strive to maintain the uniqueness of Ungok Wetland through continuous conservation and wise use, aiming to make it a world-renowned brand.”