Clean Valley: Green and Natural Resource in Gyeonggi-do, Korea

Gyeonggi Province is making various efforts to maintain sustainable clean streams and valleys through Clean Valley Restoration Project.

© GYEONGGI PROVINCE

Gyeonggi-do is pursuing many different revitalization projects, including the removal of illegal facilities, to create cleaner valleys. Many different promotional videos, such as a music video parody, and a valley-linked “staycation” tour programs (integrating summer camping, holiday accommodations, and autumn foliage) are being used to introduce the beauty and charm of Jeongyeong Valley in Gyeonggi-do. Tourism products linked to nearby tourist destinations are also being organized for your viewing pleasure, and experiences for children as well as performances for all are being offered.

Yongchu Valley in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

© GYEONGGI PROVINCE

Gyeonggi-do plans to promote these tourism revitalization projects in one county and two cities – Gapyeong, Pocheon and Yangju, respectively – which were selected as priority locations for amenities in clean valley restoration areas.

The promotional song ‘Prince of the Valley’ is a parody of the popular Korean folk song ‘Prince of the Sea’. It’s a comical music video about creating a clean, green and natural valley in the summer. Upon upload, it gained over 80,000 views on YouTube, and it continues to gain more traction every day. Gyeonggi-do will continue to provide useful tourist information by producing more promotional videos about how to enjoy these natural locations during the summer vacation and autumn foliage seasons.

In addition, the province plans to contribute to the revitalization of local commercial districts by organizing various tour routes (6 tours per day, 2-day/1-night trips) to tourist attractions around the valleys. For example, in Pocheon City, where Baegun Valley is located, tourist attractions such as Hangawon, Pyeonggang Land, and the National Arboretum can be found.

After enjoying the refreshing waters of Gapyeong Eobi Valley, you can watch performances at Petit France with your children or ride a zipline on Nami Island. In addition, in the vicinity of Seokhyeoncheon in Yangju City, one can find the Songnam Space Center, the destination of many elementary and middle school field trips.

Family experiences and performance programs are also offered in valleys during the summer vacation season.

• Pocheon Baegun Valley (4th week of July, 1st-2nd week of August/ 6 times)
• Gapyeong Unak Valley (3rd-4th week of July, 1st-2nd week of August/ 8 times)
• Yangju Jangheung Valley (3rd week of July / 2 times) 

Clean Valleys in Gyeonggi-do
© GYEONGGI PROVINCE

There are a total of 3 Gyeonggi-do tour promotion centers with experiential programs that are themed to help children learn more about the natural surroundings through activities such as postcard decoration contests, badge-making, water cannon experiences, and valley treasure hunts that families can enjoy together.

Gyeonggi-do is also planning to introduce more performance contents for tourists such as magic shows. In addition, cultural tour guides will be deployed on a trial basis to provide short tours related to the valleys and to also advise tourists regarding COVID-19 prevention measures.

In the future, Gyeonggi-do plans to develop Baegun Valley into a primary destination for tourists through the operation of a program that links Pocheon Idong Galbi Alley and Baegun Valley. This is the target site of the ‘Tourism-themed Alley Development Project in Gyeonggi-do’. Thereafter, it will continue to be expanded and promoted as a regional tourism base. In addition, after surveying tourism resources in Gapyeong Valley, Gyeonggi-do plans to provide local tourist information about such amenities as accommodations and restaurants along the Dulle-gil, which is a long-distance trekking route, so as to ensure greater convenience for valley visitors.

An official of the province said, ‘It is expected that the demand for overseas travel, which has decreased due to COVID-19, will be converted to domestic tourism, so we have prepared various programs and plan to continue nurturing them with more quality content in the future.’

Gyeonggi-do is providing support to revitalize and maintain these natural surroundings in order to create more tourist destinations not only for foreign tourists but for locals as well. It plans to restore the charm of Korea’s villages, natural surroundings, culture and art in Gyeonggi-do.

• Prohibiting illegal dumping of rubbish or wastes into rivers and valleys
• Creating walking trails, resting areas, public bathrooms and rubbish dumping grounds
• Boosting the commercial power of valley revitalization areas
• Creating experience programs such as nature traveling, family camping and parent-child itineraries
• Providing loans to businesses who wish to open in the area
• Providing consulting and funding for community activities in the area

Through these actions, Gyeonggi-do seeks to create a new type of local tourism that not only encourages people, local or foreign, to seek out a different path in travel, and at the same time, build a more eco-friendly Korea.