Hapcheon County Selects Three Sites for 2026 Accessible Tourism Project Led by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Hapcheon County in South Gyeongsang Province announced on December 9 that Jeongyang Leisure Sports Park, Hoeyang Tourist Site, and Jeongyang Wetland Ecological Park have been selected for the 2026 Accessible Tourism Destination Project, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization.

This project is a national initiative aimed at improving accessibility, mobility, and safety for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and families with infants, so they can travel without inconvenience. With its selection for the second consecutive year, Hapcheon County has reaffirmed its status as a leading region for barrier-free tourism.

Aerial view of Jeongyang Leisure Sports Park in Hapcheon County.

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The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism conducted a three-stage selection process-initial eligibility screening, a second-stage document review, and a third-stage on-site evaluation-and ultimately selected a total of 30 destinations preferred by the public. With the selection of Jeongyang Leisure Sports Park, Hoeyang Tourist Site, and Jeongyang Wetland Ecological Park, Hapcheon County will receive a total budget of 1.5 billion won (50% national funds, 10% provincial funds, and 40% county funds).

The selected sites will undergo customized on-site consulting involving barrier-free environment experts and people with disabilities, after which detailed projects will be finalized. From January to December next year, Hapcheon County plans to implement initiatives such as the creation of accessible hills, development of experiential open tourism content, and provision of barrier-free tourism information at the three sites.

With this selection, Hapcheon County will have a total of six accessible tourism destinations: Daejanggyeong Theme Park (2018), Hapcheon Image Theme Park and Hwangmaesan County Park (2025), and Jeongyang Leisure Sports Park, Hoeyang Tourist Site, and Jeongyang Wetland Ecological Park (2026). This makes it the local government with the most accessible tourism sites in South Gyeongsang Province, and marks a significant step toward becoming a truly inclusive barrier-free tourism city where everyone can enjoy travel.

A county official stated, "Transforming Hapcheon's excellent tourism resources into accessible destinations is the first step toward becoming a barrier-free tourism city where everyone can enjoy themselves freely," adding, "We will continue to ensure that everyone can experience the unique appeal of Hapcheon as an open tourism destination."

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