With facility renovations and 30th hot spring festival, tourism attraction expects to welcome 3 million visitors this year
Tourism in the Bugok Hot Springs area of South Gyeongsan Province, once a major tourist destination in South Korea, is showing signs of recovery after a challenging period marked by the closure of the popular Bugok Hawaii resort and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discovered in 1973, Bugok Hot Springs is a natural sulfur spring that produces more than 6,000 metric tons of water per day, reaching temperatures as high as 78 degrees Celsius. The water, rich in sulfur and over 20 other minerals including silicon and chlorine, is known for its therapeutic properties, particularly for respiratory and skin diseases. During winter, the region also uses the spring water for heating purposes. The name "Bugok," meaning "iron pot," was given to the area due to its pot-shaped landscape.
Although the area has long been loved for its health benefits, the region faced a decline due to aging facilities and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with the efforts of local authorities and local businesses, tourism numbers have started to rebound.
According to Changnyeong-gun, the number of visitors to Bugok Hot Springs reached 2.83 million in 2024, a significant increase compared to 2.42 million in 2020, when the pandemic led to a sharp decline in tourism. The county expects the number of visitors to surpass 3 million this year.
The region saw a boost after being designated as South Korea's first official "hot spring city" in 2023. Upcoming projects, such as the construction of a yellow clay road, a light street, a children's park and facilities for sports training teams, are expected to contribute to tourism growth. Additionally, the renovation of family bathhouses and the recent opening of the Changnyeong-Miryang section of the Hamyang-Ulsan highway is anticipated to attract more visitors.
Tourism patterns have also shifted, with a noticeable decline in group tours using buses and an increase in family-oriented visitors, according to the county.
Changnyeong County Mayor Seong Nak-in expressed his gratitude to tourists saying, "We will continue to work hard so that more people can come to Changnyeong to relax and unwind."
The 30th annual Bugok Hot Spring Festival will be held from March 28 to 30.
yoohong@heraldcorp.com
