Suncheon was just another city in South Jeolla Province until it became famous for its big Suncheon Bay and National Garden.

Since the garden was named Korea’s first national garden in August 2013, millions of tourists have visited the city, contributing to the local economy.
 

“We are pleased to hear that Suncheon became Korea’s most visited city last year with over 5 million visitors,” said Cho in an interview with The Korea Herald.

“I am pretty sure that Suncheon is the place to wholly satisfy tourists from its nature to historical places,” said the mayor.

Suncheon is now a rising tourist attraction, in particular to young people. According to Rail-ro, an unlimited train pass program which enables those under 25 to travel inside Korea, Suncheon was picked the most popular place among young tourists last year.

Besides the bay and the garden, this city has various other offerings.

“Naganeupseong Folk Village is a planned city hundreds of years old since the Joseon Dynasty. It is meaningful to visit the nation’s only folk village where people still live in,” said Cho.

“Songgwangsa Temple and Seonamsa Temple are also worth visiting as Songgwangsa is known as one of the greatest Buddhist temples of Korea.”

Suncheon also has churches that are older than one century. The remains of Western missionaries, who built up churches there, are now preserved in the Suncheon Christianity Museum.

Suncheon is gearing up to become a worldwide popular city.

From Sept. 2 to 4, the city will hold the “2016 Food and Art Festival” downtown.

“This festival won’t end up just as a one-shot event but will become Suncheon’s unique festival to leave tourists with a huge impression. Take-out food made of local ingredients will be served while diverse cultural content will be created to make the city look more special,” he said.

“The festival is currently under preparation to eventually seek further growth of the local economy.”

In the long-run, the festival is expected to represent South Jeolla Province by 2019 and it is aiming to gain the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s support by 2022.

“We invite you to fully enjoy the upcoming festival in Suncheon,” he said.

By Park Dae-seong and Song Ji-won (parkds@heraldcorp.com">parkds@heraldcorp.com)(jiwon.song@heraldcorp.com)