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| A man rides a bicycle on a trail that surrounds Lake Uiam in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. / Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization |
By Jun Ji-hye
The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has selected 100 less-crowded domestic tourist spots where citizens can get away from bustling city life amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The organization cooperated with seven regional offices, including the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization and Busan Tourism Organization, to draw up a list of 100 tourist spots that allow for social distancing.
Requirements for locations to be included in the list were that they should be little-known to the public and that they are outdoor sites, so tourists can comply with the government's social distancing guidelines aimed at containing the transmission of the coronavirus, according to the organization.
The KTO said the list, announced ahead of the summer peak season, is expected to contribute to decentralizing travel demand for popular tourist destinations, so citizens can enjoy their trip in a safer and more relaxed environment.
The 100 tourist spots on the list included Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri Park in Paju, and Konjiam Resort that operates the "Healing Campus" in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.
Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri Park, located in the South Korean border city, gives a chance to visitors to take a rest in a large, grass-covered park, while looking around at various sculptures created with the theme of unification.
Konjiam Resort operates a variety of wellness programs to help visitors take care of their physical and mental state to improve their quality of life.
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| Metasequoia Forest in Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang Province / Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization |
Hanbat Arboretum in Daejeon invites families and couples to take a nice and peaceful walk alongside the trees.
In Busan, Mount Jang that provides various hiking courses offer superb sceneries of Gwangan Bridge and Haeundae Marine City was included in the list, along with Amir Park in Yeongdo.
Ten spots in Seoul also made the list, including Mongchontoseong Fortress in Songpa-gu.
Mongchontoseong Fortress, located within Olympic Park, is the remains of earthen fortifications from the ancient Baekje Kingdom (18 BC-AD 660). Visitors can take a walk along a 2.4-kilometer walking trail and learn the historical value of the fortress at the museum there.
Tourists are also invited to Ara Canal in Incheon that links the Han River to West Sea. The site is known as one of the prime spots for camping and riding bicycles.
In Jeju Island, Huerim operated by the Jeju Forestry Cooperative was included in the list. The facility offers diverse experience programs to visitors, such as cultivating the saplings and producing forest products, as well as sites for camping.
Bicycle riders are invited to explore a trail that surrounds Lake Uiam in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.
"The KTO will keenly cooperate with regional tourism organizations to promote safe trips amid the pandemic," senior KTO official Jeong Chang-wook said. "We will also expend greater efforts to discover new tourism content to revitalize domestic travel."
