In the summer of 2009, the Korean government finalized details for its Four River Restoration Project that seeks to secure a sufficient water supply, prevent flooding, upgrade water resources and revive the ecosystem by developing four major rivers in Korea: the Han-gang (Han River), Nakdong-gang (Nakdong River), Geum-gang (Geum River) and Yeongsan-gang (Yeongsan River). The project is part of Korea's ?ow carbon green growth?policy.

In line with the move, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hopes to create a new cultural wave along the riverside.

The four major rivers that flow across the country have always been picturesque, surrounded by pristine nature and rich in historical and cultural resources. The region of the Han-gang, for one, has long held significance as the birthplace of ancient Korean culture that dates back to prehistoric times. The Geum-gang district is well known for its superb ecosystem as well as the wonderful preservation of cultural relics from the Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C. ?A.D. 660). The area around the Yeongsan-gang, based on its early farming culture, boasts rich marine products and the unique culture of Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla Province). The Nakdong-gang region is where the roots of two ancient kingdoms, Silla (57 B.C. ?A.D. 935) and Gaya (42 ?532) can be traced.

Against this backdrop, the culture ministry is considering restoring historic relics and developing the regions around each river into new culture, tourism, sports and leisure spaces. Once the plan succeeds, these could become great places to attract tourists from overseas and foster balanced development between the regions. The government wants to classify each river region according to its characteristics, so that they can be developed for respective tourism packages.

For that purpose, the ministry formed a separate task force team that established a basic plan for river regions after several months of research earlier this year. The plan will be jointly pursued with the Four Rivers Restoration Project, headed by the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs.

The gist of the plan is to secure (1) tangible and intangible forms of cultural resources; (2) a bicycle and a walking path to explore and enjoy the surrounding environment; (3) and more space for leisure facilities.

A total of 51 related projects have been mapped out, and a budget of 52.2 billion won has been allotted. Some 7.64 billion won will be injected to Yangpyeong near the Han-gang to form a Sonagi Village (Village of Summer Shower). Another 12.11 million won will go to the Geum-gang region to build a rest stop in Okcheon and eight other projects. Yeongsan-gang will receive over 11 billion won for the establishment of a culture-history center in nearby Naju, along with 12 other projects. Finally, the Nakdong-gang region will receive 21.39 billion won to lay bike exploring paths and other 22 projects in nearby Yeongju.

It is believed that a total of 361 items of cultural heritage are spread in the areas around four major rivers; 110 being designated as cultural heritage. The question of how to efficiently manage and take advantage of these relics has become an important one. Such projects will be pursued in close coordination with the Ministry of Environment and local governments.

Efforts will be made to establish a basis for a sports and leisure culture in the region. Guidelines will be drawn up for the creation of facilities for running and waterskiing, as well as places to enjoy inline skating, bicycle and golf. Venues would be further developed for competition in swimming, marathon running and kayaking among others.

Many green tourism packages are also underway to counter climate change and uphold the low carbon green growth policy. This includes tourist sites for mountaineers heading to the Baekdu Mountain Range. The task force team is looking to secure a pathway from Cheonwang-bong Peak of Jirisan Mountain to Hyangno-bong Peak in Goseong County (684 km). Development plans are also underway for the seven nature roads that include Dullae-gil Road in Ganghwa-do, the coastline of Donghae (the East Sea) and Toji Road near the Seomjin River.

Visitors who have already tried out preliminary experience programs are generally satisfied. ? came to this path while looking for a good place for a walk with my friends,?said Lee Tae-yeon, a homemaker from Seoul, who visited the Toji Road. Toji Road is named after the famous Korean river novel written by Park Gyeong-ni (1926-2008). ?s I walk alongside the calm river of Seomjin, I feel I have gone back to my teenage years when I first read the novel,?she said.

The disused 22 railroad tracks (700 km) and small train stations have also been turned into new tourism packages. Jeongseon County in Gangwon-do (Gangwon Province), for example, became popular after renovating the abandoned tracks into a rail bike for tourists. The counties of Sinan, Jangheung, Damyang and Wando are also transforming themselves into the first slow cities in Asia, linking their tourism packages with the nearby wetland, swamp, habitat of migratory birds and DMZ among other green tour courses.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport will further step up its promotion of five major palaces in the capital city Seoul (Gyeongbok-gung, Changdeok-gung, Deoksugung, Changyeonggung and Gyeonghuigung); develop more diverse programs for temple stay, Hanok stay and other traditional buildings in Korea; boost a high-value medical tourism and exhibition & convention industry; and better systematize tourism guidelines throughout the country.

Also, taking into consideration examples from abroad that have transformed worn down thermal plants and train stations into art galleries ?namely England's Tate Modern Museum and France's Orsay Museum ?Korea is planning to pull off similar projects at home, too. The five tentative sites that the government hopes to turn into cultural spaces are the inner harbor of Gunsan County as a theater, salt field and salt warehouse of Sinan County as a salt experience site and the former quarry site of Pocheon County as a stone experience site. The old Seoul Station in downtown Seoul will be reborn as a multi-function cultural art space soon.

*Adapted from Weekly Gonggam Magazine

By Kim Hee-sung
Korea.net Staff Writer
SOURCE : Korea.net