Paju-si Designated as New Zone for 'Barrier-Free Tourism Connectivity Enhancement Project'

Creating a Barrier-Free Environment for Vulnerable Travelers
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to Provide 4 Billion KRW Over Three Years; Gyeonggi Province to Match Funding

Paju City has been selected as a new zone for the '2025 Barrier-Free Tourism Connectivity Enhancement Project.'

The 'Barrier-Free Tourism Connectivity Enhancement Project' aims to improve the accessibility and connectivity of various tourism elements within a region?such as tourist attractions, private facilities, and travel services?so that vulnerable travelers including people with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women, and families with infants can travel conveniently.

On the 20th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that, following Gangneung City in 2022 and Ulsan Metropolitan City in 2024, Paju City has been newly selected as a zone for the 'Barrier-Free Tourism Connectivity Enhancement Project' in collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization.

The project will be implemented in phases over three years. In the first year, the focus will be on improving accessibility primarily for people with disabilities by introducing special transportation such as buses and minivans equipped with wheelchair lifts and installing boarding and alighting areas for disabled passengers. In the second year, accessibility of private facilities will be enhanced by installing accessible restrooms and ramps at restaurants, cafes, and shopping facilities near tourist sites, as well as producing Braille menus. In the third year, support will be provided for developing travel products utilizing the connected facilities, and comprehensive tourism services will be established by offering integrated information and human services to improve overall convenience throughout the zone.

Regarding the selection of Paju City, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism explained that the enhanced metropolitan transportation network due to the opening of the GTX (Great Train Express)-Unjeong Central Station, attractive tourism resources such as peace tourism and Imjingak, the local government's project implementation capabilities and sustainability, and the competence of the dedicated organization were highly evaluated. Additionally, since Paju has five open tourist sites (Imjingak, Majang Lake, Gongneung Tourist Site, Third Tunnel, and Dorasan Observatory), it is expected that the project will have a significant effect in terms of strengthening connectivity.

Paju City boasts diverse cultures and natural landscapes. The 'DMZ Peace Tourism,' which explores the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), surpassed 10 million cumulative visitors last November. It offers a unique experience for both domestic and foreign tourists to directly experience the historical events and background of the Korean War. At Heyri Art Village, visitors can enjoy various cultural and artistic events, and walking paths have been established at Majang Lake and Gongneung Tourist Site to allow vulnerable travelers to stroll comfortably. Going forward, Paju plans to develop a barrier-free tourism specialized zone centered around Imjingak, 'DMZ Peace Tourism,' and Heyri Art Village.

Imjingak Mangbaedan, Paju City [Photo by Yonhap News]

Furthermore, Paju City plans to strengthen connectivity among major tourist sites including the GTX-Unjeong Central Station, Unification Hill Tourism Special Zone, Imjingak Tourist Site, Dorasan Observatory, and the Third Tunnel. With the opening of GTX-Unjeong Central Station (scheduled for December 2024), a fast transportation network connecting Seoul and northern Gyeonggi Province will be provided, making it easier to access Paju’s attractive tourist destinations. By introducing special transportation that enables travel between tourist sites as part of the barrier-free connectivity enhancement project, it is expected that visitors using wheelchairs will be able to freely explore every corner of Paju starting from the station.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will provide up to 4 billion KRW in national funding to Paju City over three years (2025?2027). Gyeonggi Province and Paju City will also contribute 4 billion KRW in local funds as matching support. In total, 8 billion KRW will be provided to help Paju City create a tourism environment that everyone can enjoy without restrictions. Starting in March, Paju City will officially begin the barrier-free tourism connectivity enhancement project with expert consulting supported by the Korea Tourism Organization, focusing on essential elements such as tourism transportation connectivity.

Kim Jeong-hoon, Director of Tourism Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "The Barrier-Free Tourism Connectivity Enhancement Project is expected not only to expand travel rights for vulnerable travelers but also to enhance the region’s tourism competitiveness. Through this project, we will further increase the value of Paju City’s tourism resources, including 'DMZ Peace Tourism,' and actively support all tourists to travel conveniently without restrictions."

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