Gyeongju's Bomun Tourist Complex Aims to Make a Comeback as Korea's No. 1 Tourism Destination

【Financial News Daegu·Andong = Reporter Kim Jang-wook】Gyeongju's Bomun Tourist Complex is transforming itself in a bid to make a fresh leap forward under the 'Korea's No. 1 Tourism Destination' brand.
Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture and Tourism Organization (President Kim Nam-il; hereafter, the Organization) renamed the existing Waterwheel Plaza the Korea's No. 1 Tourism Destination Park and created the Korea's No. 1 Tourism Destination Trail, linking major historical and cultural sites, to shed new light on the Bomun Tourist Complex's historical value and expand its tourism offerings.
Accordingly, on the 10th, the Organization held a trail sign unveiling ceremony and an on-site tour at the Korea's No. 1 Tourism Destination Park, attended by President Kim Nam-il, labor union chairman Jeon Hee-chan, executives and staff, and new employees and interns, among others.
President Kim Nam-il said, "The creation of Korea's No. 1 Tourism Destination Park and the trail is a meaningful project that restores the historical value of the Bomun Tourist Complex, which has grown alongside South Korea's tourism industry." He stressed, "We will continue to expand tourism infrastructure and offerings to develop the Bomun Tourist Complex into a global destination for longer stays, where visitors can enjoy themselves both day and night."
The newly created Korea's No. 1 Tourism Destination Trail is a 2.7-kilometer historical and cultural walking route that traces the 50-year history of the Bomun Tourist Complex, designated as the country's first tourist complex in 1975.
The trail connects six major sites: the symbolic stone at the Korea's No. 1 Tourism Destination Park; Yukbuchon (the Organization's headquarters, South Korea's first tourism convention center, and a 50th-anniversary commemorative stone); Room 1114 at the Commodore Hotel (where former President Park Chung-hee stayed); the pier at Bomunho Lake; the Bomun Water Performance Hall; and the Korea Tourism History Park.
Yukbuchon is where a workshop was held during the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) General Assembly in 1979. Along with the Commodore Hotel and the Korea Tourism History Park, it offers a place to explore the historical significance of the Bomun Tourist Complex.
To help visitors understand the site, the Organization has installed bronze plaques in the park's paving and a comprehensive information board. It plans to develop the trail into the Bomun Tourist Complex's flagship historical and cultural tourism offering through guide leaflets and online and offline promotion.
Meanwhile, the Organization is also expanding infrastructure to improve the tourism environment at the Bomun Tourist Complex. Recently, it opened a long-awaited connecting road between the Bomun central shopping area and the Hilton Hotel and installed a cooling mist system to make walking more comfortable.
The Organization is also developing the Night Trail, a nighttime landscape improvement project connecting Seorabeol Plaza, Bomunjeong, and the Korea's No. 1 Tourism Destination Park, among other sites, with a total investment of 1.5 billion won. The project is currently about 70% complete.
Through these projects, the Organization plans to enhance the historical and cultural value of the Bomun Tourist Complex while expanding nighttime tourism offerings and encouraging longer stays.

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