Suwon to Establish Suwon Camping Ground in Bongwha County, Gyeongbuk, Friendly City Facing Population Decline

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Joon-sung] Suwon Special Metropolitan City is embarking on mutual cooperation with Bongwha County in Gyeongbuk, a friendly city, by operating the 'Cheongnyangsan Suwon Camping Ground' in a region facing population decline crisis.

Since 2015, Suwon City and Bongwha County have maintained continuous exchanges with public officials visiting each other's major festivals—the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival and the Bongwha Pine Mushroom Festival. In June last year, they signed a friendly city agreement and decided to pursue a mutual cooperation project in which Suwon City would operate the Cheongnyangsan Camping Ground as a linked initiative.

Bongwha County will transfer the operating rights of the Cheongnyangsan Camping Ground (Myeongho-myeon, Bongwha County) to Suwon City free of charge for 10 years, while Suwon City will improve the facilities and create and operate a camping ground preferred by citizens.

The Cheongnyangsan Camping Ground opened in 2017 and covers an area of 11,595 square meters (approximately 3,500 pyeong). In 2024, it attracted approximately 10,000 visitors.

Suwon City will invest approximately 1.9 billion won to improve the camping ground facilities. It plans to expand facilities such as caravans and glamping, significantly enhance landscaping by creating grass lawns, and operate it as a specialized camping ground in harmony with nature. The goal is to increase annual visitors to over 20,000. Camping fees for Suwon citizens will be discounted by 50%.

Bongwha County, blessed with pristine natural environments, offers abundant attractions including Cheongnyangsan, Cheongnyangsan Museum, Baekdudaegan Arboretum, valleys, and Sansuyou Village, as well as entertainment options such as rafting, sweetfish festivals, pine mushroom harvesting experiences, and the Baekdudaegan Gorge Train.

Suwon City promoted the establishment of the Cheongnyangsan Suwon Camping Ground to pursue mutual cooperation with its friendly city Bongwha County, which faces a population decline crisis beyond mere population reduction.

According to the Population Decline Risk Index released by the Korea Employment Information Service in 2024, Bongwha County is classified as a 'high-risk region for population decline.' Among Suwon City's seven sister and friendly cities, Bongwha County has the smallest population and the highest population decline rate.

Bongwha County's population peaked at 120,000 in 1967 and has been declining ever since. In July 2023, the population fell below the 30,000 mark, and currently stands at approximately 28,900. Last year, Bongwha County recorded 535 deaths and 46 births.

Once the Cheongnyangsan Suwon Camping Ground is established, it is expected to boost the local economy of Bongwha County by increasing 'floating population' such as tourists. By hiring Bongwha County residents (10 people) as camping ground management workers, job creation effects are anticipated, and if 20,000 people visit the camping ground annually, Bongwha County is projected to gain approximately 2 billion won in economic benefits.

The Health and Welfare Committee of the Suwon City Council passed 'A Partial Amendment to the Ordinance on Management and Operation of Suwon City's Cheongnyangsan Suwon Camping Ground' at the 393rd first regular session held on the 16th. The city plans to launch the Cheongnyangsan Suwon Camping Ground development project in earnest.

A city official stated, "Through the establishment of the Cheongnyangsan Suwon Camping Ground, Suwon citizens will enjoy camping in Bongwha County, which boasts pristine natural environments, at affordable prices, and Bongwha County, facing a population decline crisis, will become more widely known," adding, "We hope many citizens will visit the Cheongnyangsan Suwon Camping Ground."

The official further noted, "Population decline is not a problem of a single region but of the entire Republic of Korea," and expressed hope that "the mutual cooperation between Suwon City and Bongwha County will lead to mutual cooperation between other major cities and regions facing population decline crises."