Gokseong Seomjingang Train Village Water Play Area Gains Popularity as Summer Retreat

Over 16,000 Visitors in One Month
Boosting Extended-Stay Tourism with Family-Friendly Attractions

Scenery of the water play area at Gokseong Seomjingang Train Village. Provided by Gokseong County

Gokseong County in South Jeolla Province announced on August 25 that the children's water play area at Gokseong Seomjingang Train Village, which was temporarily opened for a month starting from July 25, recorded over 1,000 visitors on its final day, August 24, and attracted a total of approximately 16,000 visitors over the month.

The children's water play area at Seomjingang Train Village, located on a 10,000-square-meter site near Magic Land, featured two water slides up to 79 meters long, five combination play structures for children, and a tropical palm tree photo zone, receiving an enthusiastic response from children and family visitors.

Additionally, the county enhanced convenience facilities such as shaded areas, rental shops for water play equipment, showers, and storage lockers to ensure a comfortable experience for all guests. To further accommodate children weary from the heat, a Kkaebi Bus shuttle operated between the main gate and the water play area, drawing extra attention.

Special attention was also paid to safety management, with daily facility inspections and water quality checks, and professional safety personnel assigned to closely monitor the children at all times, ensuring a safe and enjoyable environment.

The newly introduced children's water play area reached a daily maximum of 1,526 visitors this summer, and its popularity was evident as satisfied guests returned up to five times, with as many as 3,800 visitors on weekends and holidays. External (paying) tourists accounted for 93.7% of all visitors, and the water play area contributed to extended-stay tourism by linking with attractions such as the rail bike, steam locomotive, and exhibition experiences within Train Village.

This year’s opening of the water play area has been well received by both residents and tourists, significantly contributing to the expansion of local leisure infrastructure and revitalization of the regional economy, despite a decrease in foot traffic due to the heatwave.

The county plans to continue developing seasonal, customized tourism content to strengthen its tourism competitiveness and, based on this year’s operational results, will further enhance convenience facilities, create a more pleasant environment, and reinforce safety management next year to make the water play area even safer and more enjoyable.

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