Inje-gun Finally Selected for 2026 Rural Tourism Contest with "Forest-chelin Guide"

Inje-gun Ushers In a New Era of "Stay-Type Tourism"
Investing 240 Million Won to Build a Stay-Type Model
Full-Scale Launch of the Area-Based Rural Tourism Project

Inje-gun in Gangwon Province has been finally selected for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' public contest for the "2026 Area-Based Rural Tourism Project" and will fully launch a four-season, stay-type "Area-Based Rural Tourism Project" by investing a total of 240 million won over two years.

Area-based rural tourism. Provided by Inje-gun

The "Area-Based Rural Tourism Project" is a program that supports local governments in linking and cooperating with local rural tourism operators so they can utilize unique tourism resources and operate stay-type travel programs that combine experiences, sightseeing, dining, and accommodation.

For the 2026 project, a total of five project districts nationwide were selected: one in Gangwon, one in North Chungcheong, two in South Chungcheong, and one in Jeju. Among them, Inje-gun was finally selected in the Gangwon district competition.

Inje-gun submitted its project plan with the participation of the Inje Revitalization Project Group (hereinafter referred to as the project group). Following its selection in this contest, the project group will participate as the implementing agency for two years starting in 2026 and will move forward with full-scale project implementation.

The core brand of this project is "Forest-chelin Guide_in Inje," a stay-type rural tourism model that connects Inje-gun's four-season natural environment and abundant forest resources with rural villages and incorporates gastronomic elements.

The goal is to move away from one-off, short visits and build a tourism structure focused on longer stays and repeat visits.

In spring, a wildflower forest experience program will be operated around the Gombaeryeong area. In summer, the project will offer experience-based content that combines water and forest, such as trekking in the Achimgari Valley, forest experiences at Lake Soyang, and camping in the forest.

In autumn, it will run foliage and agricultural harvest experience programs that link the fir tree forest and Baekdam Valley, while in winter it plans to operate snow-scenery-centered forest travel programs utilizing the birch forest, thereby dispersing tourism demand across all four seasons.

Hwangtaedeokjang. Provided by Inje County

Each program is organized as a one-night, two-day itinerary mainly targeting family tourists and Millennials & Gen Z, and the project aims to attract a total of around 700 participants over the two-year period.

Project Group Chairman Jung Yeonbae said, "Through this project, we will establish a differentiated rural tourism model unique to Inje and help rural experience villages secure a stable income base," adding, "Starting with pilot operations this coming spring, we plan to gradually introduce rural tourism content that captures the nature and everyday life of Inje-gun."

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