Gwangyang City Accelerates Realization of "Semjin River Basin Tourism Belt" Connecting Gurye, Gokseong, and Hadong

4 Major City and County Mayors Meeting Held on the 29th
Discussions on Creating an Integrated Tourism Belt and Promoting Metropolitan Tourism

Gwangyang City, along with Gokseong, Gurye, and Hadong Counties—regions that share the Semjin River—are accelerating efforts to establish the Semjin River Basin Tourism Era by strengthening cooperation to create an integrated tourism belt and foster stay-type tourism content.

Gwangyang City announced on September 29 that it had attended the "Semjin River Basin 4 Major City and County Mayors Meeting" held at the Gokseong County Office, where they shared progress updates on the Semjin River Basin Integrated Tourism Belt Development Project and discussed measures for successful collaboration on the Southern Region’s metropolitan tourism promotion initiative.

On the 29th, Seonghyun Park, Mayor of Gwangyang City, attended the "Four Mayors and County Governors Meeting of the Seomjingang Area" held at the Gokseong County Office, sharing the progress of the Seomjingang Integrated Tourism Belt Development Project and discussing cooperation measures for the successful promotion of the southern regional tourism development project. Provided by Gwangyang City

The meeting was attended by approximately 30 people, including Park Sung-hyun, Mayor of Gwangyang City, the heads of the four local governments, officials from the Jeonnam Tourism Foundation, and working-level public officials. During this gathering—held as an inaugural meeting since the launch of the 9th term of local mayors—participants shared strategic directions for joint tourism policy in the Semjin River Basin and agreed to further solidify the cooperative system between the municipalities, which share everyday life, culture, and a common tourism zone.

The meeting proceeded with a review of the progress made in the Semjin River Basin Integrated Tourism Belt Development Project, followed by discussions on linking wide-area tourism resources based on the Semjin River, joint marketing strategies, and the development of stay-type tourism products.

In addition, representatives from the Jeonnam Tourism Foundation presented the current status of the Southern Region’s metropolitan tourism promotion project and key wide-area tourism initiatives, including the "Semjin River Stay" specialized project slated to run through 2033, and shared future plans and detailed cooperation measures.

The four cities and counties agreed to connect their ecological, cultural, and tourism resources centered around the Semjin River under a single brand, aiming to create a tourism environment in which the entire region is recognized as a single destination. They also pledged to cooperate on building a representative metropolitan tourism zone in Korea, making it possible for visitors to naturally travel and stay across the various areas.

Park Sung-hyun, Mayor of Gwangyang City, remarked, "The Semjin River is a valuable asset that connects Gwangyang, Gurye, Gokseong, and Hadong beyond administrative boundaries. By linking the unique attractions of each area, we will enhance the overall tourism competitiveness of the Semjin River Basin and actively cooperate to develop it into a leading metropolitan tourism destination in Korea, where more visitors stay and return."

Since declaring the ‘Semjin River Tourism Era’ in 2023, the Semjin River Basin region has jointly promoted the Integrated Tourism Belt Development Project. In 2024, the project was incorporated into the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Southern Region Metropolitan Tourism Development Plan, laying the groundwork for building a wide-area tourism zone. Currently, joint projects such as the "Semjin River Stay" specialized program, a circular tour bus linking tourist sites in the four cities and counties, and the Semjin River Trail 100K are being implemented.

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