By Park Hye Ri
Photos = Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In Chon from Jan. 26-27 in Gangneung, Gangwon-do Province, attended the event "Local 100, Walking on Gangneung" to experience the area's culture.

The program was part of the second part of "Local Journey to See Local 100," a campaign to promote tourism in the provinces.

In October last year, his ministry designated 100 leading tangible and intangible cultural resources in the provinces like cultural landmarks, content and famous people to promote the value of regional culture. Campaigns promoting the provinces in cooperation with local governments, private companies and public institutions seek to attract more domestic and foreign visitors to the targeted areas.

This part of the Local 100 campaign is being conducted in conjunction with the Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics (Gangwon 2024) to promote not only the competition to visitors but also the diverse culture of Gangneung.

Minister Yu, the ministry said, visited that day Local 100 locations like the Gangneung Coffee Festival, Gangneung Sinami Myeongju Street, Gangneung Danoje Festival, and the paths Haeparang-gil and Bau-gil of Korea Dulle Trail, which covers about 4,500 km nationwide. At these places, he experienced the area's culture, sports, trekking and food.

Later that morning, Minister Yu thanked volunteer workers dedicated to a successful hosting of Gangwon 2024, and gave bouquets of flowers to elderly volunteers on their birthdays.

Afterwards, he visited the speedskating venue Gangneung Oval with participants in Local 100, Walking on Gangneung and cheered the men's and women's national speedskating teams in the mass start event featuring Heo Seok, Shin Seonung, Jung Huidan and Lim Leewon.

"Gangneung is an exciting place with the Gangneung Danoje Festival, which has prayed for happiness for 1,000 years, and great for enjoying coffee thanks to its some 900 cafes, 2,000 baristas, Anmok Coffee Street and massive coffee factories," Minister Yu said. "By linking with 'Local 100,' we want to make people want to visit, stay and live in this area through culture rather than just pass through."

hrhr@korea.kr