Gwangyang City Opens Baegunsan Forest Museum

A New Forest Culture Hub in Eastern Jeollanam-do Expected
Interactive Exhibitions and Diverse Programs to Be Operated

Gwangyang City has unveiled a new forest cultural space representing the eastern region of Jeollanam-do. On the 13th, Gwangyang City successfully held the opening ceremony of the Baegunsan Forest Museum and announced that it will officially begin operations on the 14th.

The opening ceremony was attended by Gwangyang Mayor Jung Inhwa, Jeollanam-do Provincial Council Chair Kim Taegyun, Gwangyang City Council Chair Choi Daewon, Jeollanam-do Eastern Regional Headquarters Director Joo Sunseon, along with provincial and city council members, heads of organizations, and about 80 local residents who celebrated the museum's opening.

On the 13th, Baegunsan Forest Museum opened in Gwangyang City. Photo by Gwangyang City

The Baegunsan Forest Museum was established to promote the value of forests and the importance of conservation.

Currently, 20 specimens out of 574 plant species collected from Baegunsan are on display, selected based on seasonality and rarity. In the future, various exhibitions and experiential programs such as the Baegunsan photo contest, forest protection poster drawing contest, and film screenings in the third exhibition hall will be developed and operated.

The Forest Museum features storytelling-based exhibitions and hands-on content, allowing visitors to easily and enjoyably understand forest ecology.

The first exhibition hall, "The Disappearing Forest," introduces the public benefits of forests and emphasizes the need for forest conservation through endangered species name cards and a cycling experience.

The second exhibition hall, "The Precious Forest," offers activities such as drawing leaf fossils, a wildflower information kiosk, digital climbing, and VR experiences, allowing visitors to experience the seasonal changes of Baegunsan.

The third exhibition hall, "Together with the Forest," is a healing space utilizing a large screen, enabling visitors to vividly experience the nature of Baegunsan.

The museum will be open year-round after its opening, with closure days on Mondays, January 1st, and the days of Seollal and Chuseok. Operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from March to October, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November to February of the following year. Admission is free, making it accessible for everyone to visit without burden.

Kim Taegyun, Chair of the Jeollanam-do Provincial Council, said, "The Baegunsan Forest Museum is the only forest museum established in the eastern region and is expected to spread the value of Jeonnam's ecological resources and lead the development of forest culture."

Choi Daewon, Chair of the Gwangyang City Council, stated, "I hope the Baegunsan Forest Museum becomes a source of pride for Gwangyang and establishes itself as a representative forest cultural space in Korea."

Joo Sunseon, Director of the Jeollanam-do Eastern Regional Headquarters, said, "The Baegunsan Forest Museum will provide various forest learning opportunities for residents, play an important role as a forest cultural complex for the permanent preservation of forest materials and academic research."

Jung Inhwa, Mayor of Gwangyang, stated, "I hope the opening of the Baegunsan Forest Museum will be an important first step for Gwangyang to become a stay-type tourist city, and that it will become a beloved landmark for both citizens and tourists."

Gwangyang City plans to use the museum's opening as an opportunity to develop the Baegunsan area into an eco-friendly tourist attraction, expand forest-related experiential programs, and strengthen educational and research functions to create a sustainable forest tourism model.

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