National park’s attractions and sites of which name were forcibly renamed during the Japanese colonial era will finally regain their original name.

Korea National Park Service (KNPS) under the Ministry of Environment announced on February 25 to carry out ‘Place Name Reinstatement Project’ for major attractions and sites of the 21 national parks, such as mountaintop and valley, across the nation in 2013.

The subjects of project include the places which used to be named but forgotten by the later generation, the key attractions without name, and the sites whose name was forcibly changed under the Japanese colonial rule.

To this end, KNPS will conduct a demand survey on renaming and reclaiming project in each national park by April. After the survey, it will analyze historical sources, investigate literature and collect opinions from local residents and the public. Then, the “Renaming Committee” will be formulated to finalize the list of names by August.

To note, the public can join in the project and their opinion will be positively reflected in selecting the name. Chairman of KNPS said that reclaiming original names of the attractions will not only give visitors stories to tell, but also improve identity and value of the national parks.

In 2012, KNPS has applied for renaming of waterfall No. 1, 2, 3 in Juwangsan National Park on the Renaming Committee to reclaim their own names, Yongchu Waterfall, Jeolgu Waterfall and Yongyeon Waterfall, in 80 years.

The changed name will be finalized in March after the voting of Gyeongbuk Province Renaming Committee, and deliberation by National Renaming Committee of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs in 2012.