Ungok Wetland in Gochang Earns Top Ecotourism Rating for 8 Consecutive Years

A Variety of Programs Including the Saturday Market and Ecological Table

Gochang County in Jeonbuk Province has received the highest rating for eight consecutive years for the Ungok Ramsar Wetland in the 2025 ecological tourism site evaluation conducted by Jeonbuk Province.

Gochang County received the highest rating for eight consecutive years in the 2025 ecological tourism site evaluation conducted by Jeonbuk Province, for the Ungok Ramsar Wetland. Photo by Gochang County

According to the county on the 21st, the Ungok Ramsar Wetland received an S grade in the ecological tourism site category, while the county also earned S grades in the Samcheonri-gil and Cheonri-gil trail categories.

The county, together with the Gochang County Ecotourism Residents’ Social Cooperative, a local residents' council, operates a variety of programs such as the Saturday Market, Ecological Table, Wetland Ecological Education, Village Grandmother Guides, and Firefly Tours, striving to vitalize ecotourism and increase residents’ income.

This year, in particular, unique programs such as a photo contest, photo exhibition, and wetland visit certification SNS event helped to promote the beauty of the Ungok Wetland and raise awareness about its conservation.

Since 2015, the county has been systematically building the foundation for ecotourism by improving trails, restoring streams, creating ecological parks and playgrounds, and establishing ecological villages. In addition, the construction of the Ungok Ramsar Wetland Center and the creation of a new National Ecological Trail are planned, raising expectations among visitors.

This evaluation was conducted from May 23 to June 12, targeting 12 ecological tourism sites and 14 Samcheonri-gil and Cheonri-gil trails in the province. The evaluation was based on the 2024 performance and future plans for each site and trail, and included 11 items across four areas: resource excellence, marketability, subjectivity, and common indicators.

Choi Soonpil, head of the World Heritage Division of the county, stated, "It is meaningful that the Ungok Ramsar Wetland has received the highest rating for eight consecutive years, establishing itself as a leading ecotourism destination. We will continue to expand sustainable ecotourism programs together with residents, developing the area into a destination where ecology, culture, and the economy grow together."

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