Muju-gun County Mayor Hwang Jeongsu said that the mountain vastness of Gucheon-dong, the Taekwondowon martial arts center and the smaller riverside neighborhood of Naedori, which is also part of the Muju-eup administrative unit, are referred to as Muju's, "trinity."

First of all, Muju's Gucheon-dong mountain district is home to 33 officially designated scenic locations situated along a stunning valley of Deogyusan Mountain, leading up to the Muju Deogyusan Resort with its winter ski slopes and summer golf course. Second, the Taekwondowon, a global center for the indigenous martial art, has now become a sacred place to all the world's taekwondo athletes. Finally, the six eup and myeon administrative units that make up the Naedori neighborhood allow visitors to taste a wide range of local cuisine and watch the adjacent Geumgang River flow by, glittering under the sunlight.

"When the Naedori neighborhood is finally developed as a tourist destination, people will be able to enjoy water sports in the river, too. With the completion of the Muju ecological forest and when we really begin our push into green tourism, the "trinity" will then be complete," said Hwang. "If someone wants to experience everything Muju has to offer, from sightseeing and enjoying the food through to just taking it easy, it would take a whole week."



Recalling his childhood in Muju, where he was born and bred, Hwang said, "Just six kilometers from my offices here today, I used to go ice fishing in the winter with my friends. I cut a hole in the ice on the river and used a harpoon to catch fish. I also remember eating fish I caught in a stream and drank makgeolli, a variety of rice beer, as I sat by the riverside."

"Fishing in a creek, although kind of simple, could be a good tourist attraction," said Hwang. "Efforts to preserve Muju's traditional harmony with nature need to be continued, whether we're talking about food or our traditional martial arts".



Muju-gun County Major Hwang Jeongsu was interviewed about the town where he grew up.

－Muju is located at the boundary between Chungcheong-do and Gyeongsang-do. Thus, you have the geographic benefit of being able to run in all directions. It also has natural tourist attractions, like Deogyusan National Park. What are your strategies to utilize these benefits?

We're going to launch cross-promotional marketing campaigns for both the Taekwondowon and the Muju Deogyusan Resort.

The Taekwondowon and the Muju Deogyusan Resort will drive the marketing campaign, and we here at the Muju-gun County Office will support them. Each organization will play its own part, but also complement the other and provide various counterposed attractions and experiences.

－Muju-gun County is home to both the Taekwondowon and the Muju Deogyusan Resort. It hosted the Winter Universiade in 1997 and has played its role as a center for both winter and summer sports. Have you ever thought of hosting more such sporting events?

Muju has hosted national sports competitions and international taekwondo competitions, as well as international cycling competitions, such as the Tour de Korea and the Granfondo. We have a range of sporting facilities and deep sporting event management know-how. We've been able to host many competitions quite successfully.

The 2015 World Youth Taekwondo Tournament will take place this year and we are doing our best to host the World Taekwondo Championships in 2017.

－What are Muju's advantages in attracting foreign direct investment or in seeking cooperation with international partners?

We have lodging, leisure and sports facilities, including the Taekwondowon and the Muju Deogyusan Resort, and we can also host international conferences. We have optimal conditions for all kinds of "MICE" events (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions). Specifically, I hope investors will take an interest in investing in the Taekwondowon.

－Muju-gun County was selected as the "2016 Travel City of the Year." What is Muju like as a tourist destination?

Muju, as a travel destination, has perfect geographical features and a range of attractive tourist sites.

The Muju Deogyusan Resort can accommodate up to 20,000 people, while our camp grounds can accommodate an additional 10,000 people. In addition, tourist attractions like the firefly-themed Bandiland amusement park and the Taekwondowon martial arts center also have lodgings.

Based on that, we are now trying to develop taekwondo-related travel packages and high-end tourism programs.



What is the main focus for the development of Muju's tourism and sports industries?

The Taekwondowon will be at the center of our tourism and sports industries, focusing on taekwondo-related education and research. We expect up to 2 million visitors annually. To satisfy that many tourists, we will develop the entire county into a tourism center. We intend to promote tourism and the regional economy of Muju with lodging-oriented tourist attractions.

- What kinds of tourist attractions, must-eat foods or local specialties would you recommend for first-time visitors to Muju, including non-Korean visitors?

I recommend the Taekwondowon. Visitors can learn about taekwondo's history and have various experiences related to the sport, including a virtual experience. Specifically, at the Taekwondowon, the Taekwondo Museum has just about everything you'd ever want to know about taekwondo.

Muju's must-eat foods are made from wild herbs and vegetables, including mushrooms and spring greens. Muju specialties include wine made from wild grapes (meoru), walnuts, apples and the Cheonma orchid.

Do you have any message for non-Korean tourists looking to visit Muju?

The area surrounding Muju is an officially designated firefly habitat, a gauge of how clean our environment is. The people of Muju are quite affectionate. Muju is also a martial arts town. To minimize inconveniences faced by non-Korean visitors, the Muju Tourist Information Center provides foreign language interpretation services, too. No matter where you go, what you see or who you meet, please come to our happy county of Muju.

By Jeon Han, Limb Jae-un
Photos: Jeon Han
hanjeon@korea.kr