"Sancheong-gun County is getting greener and cleaner. It's an ideal place for people going through hard times to relax."

Mayor Heo Kido stresses that he would rather put efforts into cherishing and preserving nature in the county than to bring about commercial exploitation. "I hope it to be a town of healing, where people can take a good rest and relieve themselves from urban fatigue."

The teacher-turned-mayor spent about 16 years in the Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang Province) provincial assembly, having worked as a chairman and as a member of the legislative body. Last year, elected as mayor, he was given the duty to improve the livelihoods of the students and families in his hometown. During an interview with Korea.net, he showed ardent passion and love for the town where he lives and for those with whom he lives.

When asked what was a memorable place in the county, he picked one of the many green fields that run throughout the county. His particular green field seemed neither special nor well-decorated. However, when he was a teacher, it was here that he brought his students, many of whom are now in their 50s. He explained that clean and pure nature, taken for granted in the past, is now the economic growth engine for Sancheong-gun County. Thanks to Mother Nature, Heo said, he can proudly invite tourists to visit his hometown.


Korea.net sat down with Mayor Heo to talk about the merits of Sancheong-gun County.

As county mayor, what are the merits of Sancheong-gun County?

The Cheonwang-bong Peak of Jirisan Mountain, the highest point on the mountain and standing at 1,915 meters, is located at No. 208, Jeungsan-ri, Sacheon-myeon, Sancheong-gun County, Korea. This wonderful mountain gives us thick, green forests and pure water.

Recently, many people have begun eating at environmentally-friendly eateries. In the past, people had to struggle with serious poverty because there was a lack of farm land. We were mostly surrounded by high mountains, one of the biggest obstacles to economic development. Now, however, those same mountains give us new opportunities. It creates electricity, for example. The mountain is what helps us stand out from other regions.

People can heal themselves in Sancheong.
Sancheong-gun County is being improved by letting nature be as it is, not by bricks or mortar.

What are Sancheong-gun County's development strategies for the next three decades?

Well, we would achieve perfection if we were capable of predicting the future. It isn't easy to predict what will happen in 30 years. However, we need to present a vision for the future. Compared to other regions, Sancheong has distinct regional features, appropriate for the development of health-enhancing and anti-aging materials. The region's unpolluted air and water are the greatest basis for the creation of such an industry.

I firmly believe that human resources are one of the most important components for the development of what we would like to call the "anti-aging industry." For that, I will devote more energy to improving our social and educational environment so that people could live a more culturally-advanced life.

To sum up, fresh ingredients and new medicinal industries, based on anti-aging materials, will be the two major industries on which we will focus.

Sancheong is known as being a center for medicinal herbs, and as being appointed as a special district for such R&D. Are there efforts to attract foreign direct investment into the medicinal herb or anti-aging industry?

Well, there are always pros and cons to the inflow of foreign direct investment. We would like to preserve Sancheong-gun County just as it is, rather than to make it look all fancy. We would like to make it greener and cleaner, a better place to relax than any other region. In my eyes, Sancheong has already been too developed.

As for the anti-aging industry, a related industrial complex will soon be established. It will house R&D institutes and medicinal corporations. It will be open to foreign companies too. Currently, plans are underway to attract overseas research centers and related corporations.


What are the key projects on which you will focus in the areas of traditional festivals, the arts and tourism?

I can't pick one project alone. There are 37 divisions under the regional cultural center. They all play a role in carrying forward traditions and customs passed down through the generations. It's not for competition, or anything. It only helps us gather together and to better communicate with each other. I would like to say that this is one of the notable regional features of our county, to keep things unchanged. Anybody can join, whenever they come.

As for tourism, one of the biggest symbols of Sancheong is Jirisan Mountain. Climbing the mountain requires about five or six hours for a fit person just to reach the top. It's such a shame that the elderly and the weak have difficulty in enjoying the breathtaking views from the top of the mountain.

Jirisan Mountain is beautiful all year round. In the spring, flowers start to bloom on the lower slopes of the mountain, slowly moving toward the top, and it works the other way around in the winter. In the summer, visitors can see a waterfall falling between green forests, while in autumn, the mountain is beautifully colored with autumn foliage. There is a wide array of wild flora and fauna. I would like to share these spectacles with many other people. For that to happen, it's essential to build cable cars. We have been working on this recently.

One of the biggest events held in Sancheong was the World Traditional Medicine Expo 2013. Also, the Sancheong Medicinal Herb Festival is an iconic event, representing the region. Please explain a little bit about the two events.

The Sancheong Medicinal Herb Festival marks its 15th anniversary this year. At the core of our pride are the medicinal herbs from Jirisan Mountain. Visitors can sample and purchase the herbs and take part in a variety of related experience programs. It has been designated as one of the best festivals by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Starting this year, the event will be equipped with more programs so that visitors can have first-hand experiences. Up until last year, the focus of the festival was only on herbs. This year, you will see a diverse range of material, including insects and fashion.


What kind of food and travel attractions would you recommend for tourists, particularly for non-Korean tourists?

Yedamchon Village, a cluster of centuries-old houses, is where you can get a glimpse into the traditional lifestyle of the region. You can only do that in Sancheong.

I would also like to recommend that they visit Donguibogamchon Village, currently undergoing a restoration. One of its merits is that you can breathe fresh mountain air and relax. You can also experience firsthand traditional Oriental medicine.

There is a distinct boundary in Donguibogamchon Village that separates the area into its upper and lower parts. The upper part is peaceful and serene, recommended for those in need of a relaxing time, while the lower part is where a wide variety of experience programs and cultural offerings are provided. We would like to keep the upper part calm, quite and serene. We are thinking about prohibiting the use of mobile phones there, in fact. The area is hopefully a place for self-reflection and meditation.

I would like to recommend to tourists that they try dried persimmons, strawberries and black pork barbeque. All three are recognized nationwide for their high quality. These specialties are in very high demand, and it's even difficult for locals to get their hands on them. There's never a need to actually advertise these commodities.

Is there anywhere in particular where you have some beautiful memories?

I have so many places to mention. First of all, there is the village of Sataek, surrounded by thick forests and greenery. I used to visit that place with my students as part of an outdoor program when I was a teacher. There, they used to sing and dance. With the passage of time, however, the village has lost a lot of what it had. I always feel morose about that.

Is there anything you'd like to say specifically to non-Korean tourists who are planning to visit Sancheong-gun County?

We are currently trying to make the region easier for non-Korean tourists to access. Those who do make it to Sancheong-gun County commonly show an interest in mountain trekking, traditional medicine and regional anti-aging ingredients. For the sake of their convenience, we are planning to equip our various cultural facilities with more chairs and benches so that they don't have to sit on the floor, and accommodations with proper beds. Also, travel pamphlets will be published in four languages to give people easier access to tourist information.

By Jeon Han, Lee Seung-ah
Photos: Jeon Han
Korea.net Staff Writers
hanjeon@korea.kr