'Mudeungsan Pyeongchon Village' Selected as Ecotourism Site by Ministry of Environment in September

Firefly and Otter Habitat Ecology Report
Ministry of Environment Promotes Pilot Project for Extended Stay Ecotourism

A panoramic view of Pyeongchon Village, an ecological treasure located at the foot of Mudeungsan Mountain.
[Photo by Gwangju City]

Gwangju's 'Mudeungsan Pyeongchon Village' has been selected by the Ministry of Environment as the 'Ecotourism Site of the Month for September.'

'Mudeungsan Pyeongchon Village' consists of four villages?Dongnim, Daman, Useong, and Dalkmoe?located within Mudeungsan National Park. Recognized for its ecological importance as the habitat of fireflies and otters, it was designated as an ecotourism area by the Ministry of Environment in 2015.

In Pungamcheon, which flows through the center of Pyeongchon Village, there are habitats for otters (Class Ⅰ, Natural Monument No. 330), a flagship species of Mudeungsan and an endangered wild animal, as well as the Korean pond turtle (Class Ⅱ). Pyeongmodeul, which leads to the Gwangjuho Lake Ecological Park, is home to fireflies, long-tailed tadpole shrimp, fairy shrimp, and water beetles, making Pyeongchon Village an area of outstanding ecological conservation value.

The Ministry of Environment will promote the ecotourism site 'Mudeungsan Pyeongchon Village' through various content such as promotional videos, card news, and blog posts, widely sharing the value and charm of Pyeongchon Village via social networking services (SNS) for one month.

Additionally, a pilot project for a '1-night 2-day stay-type ecotourism' will be launched, selecting participants nationwide to deeply experience nature while staying in Pyeongchon Village, promoted through YouTube, blogs, and other social networking services (SNS).

Gwangju City expects a synergistic effect as the 'Mudeungsan Pyeongchon Village,' the ecotourism site of September, will be intensively promoted nationwide for a month, coinciding with the opening of the '15th Gwangju Biennale' on September 7 and the autumn season festival integrated brand 'G-Festa Gwangju.'

Gwangju City is fostering Mudeungsan Pyeongchon Village, a treasure trove of natural ecosystems, as an 'ecotourism attraction.'

Linking excellent tourist resources such as the Buncheong Ceramics Exhibition Hall, Gwangjuho Lake Ecological Park, Hwanbyeokdang, and Soswaewon around the village, they are developing ecotourism programs operated by local residents, including firefly ecological observation, pottery experience, and crop harvesting, cultivating it as an 'ecotourism attraction where nature and culture harmonize.'

Moreover, local residents have formed a cooperative body to conduct ecological resource surveys, develop and operate experience and education programs, and provide capacity-building education for residents, establishing the village as a representative ecotourism site in Gwangju with an annual visitor count of about 12,000.

Kang Gi-jung, Mayor of Gwangju, said, "It is very meaningful that the hidden ecotourism attraction of Mudeungsan Pyeongchon Village, close to the city center, has been designated as the Ecotourism Site of the Month by the nation," adding, "Gwangju City will actively strive to create an ecological city by continuously discovering and fostering ecotourism resources within the city."

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