The Era of Wolasan Provincial Garden Begins... Jinju City Aims for National Garden Status

Promoting a Green City Strategy for Tourism, Healing, and Economic Impact
Official Registration as South Gyeongsang Provincial Garden... Phased Expansion Underway

Jinju City in South Gyeongsang Province announced that, as of April 16, Wolasan Mountain will be officially registered as a provincial garden by Gyeongsangnam-do. The city plans to accelerate the phased development project with the goal of being designated as a National Garden by 2030.

A provincial garden is a garden established by a local government. It can be registered if it meets requirements such as a minimum area of 10 hectares, a green space ratio of at least 40%, a dedicated management organization, parking lots, information centers, and operational ordinances.

Since 2022, Jinju City has carried out master plan development, feasibility studies, site designation, and development planning, ultimately registering a 175,000-square-meter site at 1197 Dongsan-ri, Jinseong-myeon, Wolasan Mountain as a provincial garden.

Heo Hyuncheol, Director of the Environment and Forestry Bureau of Jinju City, is holding a press conference on the registration of Wolasan Provincial Garden and the goal of becoming a National Garden.

◆ Wolasan Forest: Evolving into a Forest Garden Landmark

Jinju has established itself as a leading forest garden and recreational destination for both citizens and tourists. The city has continuously hosted the 'Wolasan Garden Expo,' raising the value and external recognition of the garden.

The event was expanded from the inaugural edition in 2023 and the second edition in 2024 to the Korea Garden Industry Expo in 2025. In 2025, the number of annual visitors reached 600,000, with cumulative visitors since the opening surpassing 1.9 million.

Additionally, Jinju City is actively promoting the spread of garden culture throughout the city by expanding garden infrastructure, training citizen gardeners, and discovering private gardens.

◆ Increasing Tourists... Visible Effects on the Local Economy

Traffic volume at the Jinseong tollgate on the Namhae Expressway, near Wolasan, increased by about 34%, from approximately 1,295,000 vehicles in 2017 before the opening to about 1,737,000 vehicles in 2025. This growth is attributed to an increase in tourist inflow from outside the region.

The rise in visitors has also revitalized the local business district in Jinseong-myeon. As only minimal convenience facilities are operated within Wolasan, a consumption structure has developed in which visitors use nearby restaurants, cafes, and stores.

Comparative statistics show that the total number of businesses in Jinseong-myeon increased from 249 in 2017 to 559 in 2024, and the number of accommodations and eateries rose from 44 to 52 during the same period. The number of employees also grew, confirming the positive ripple effects on the local economy.

◆ Differentiation through Artist Gardens

The Wolasan Provincial Garden has introduced 'artist gardens,' creating specialized spaces where art and nature are combined. In the first phase in 2023, three gardens were established, and three additional gardens will be added during the second phase from 2025 to 2026, making a total of six artist gardens in operation.

Through this initiative, Wolasan is developing beyond a simple green space into a model garden where culture and art are integrated.

Jinju City, View of Wolasan Mountain Photo

◆ Aiming for National Garden Status by 2030

Jinju City intends to use the provincial garden registration as a starting point, continuously expanding the garden area and completing a Korean-style forest garden model that integrates forest-type woodland gardens and landscape agricultural gardens, with the goal of being designated a National Garden by 2030.

The city expects multi-layered benefits, including revitalizing garden tourism, fostering the garden industry, expanding spaces for citizen relaxation and healing, and establishing a sustainable green city foundation.

An official from Jinju City stated, "The Wolasan Provincial Garden has sufficient competitiveness to advance to National Garden status, thanks to its differentiated content and citizen participation," and added, "We will further enhance Jinju's status as a city of garden culture."

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