Gyeonggi Province Certifies Hwaseong Maehyangri Peace Memorial Hall as 'Wellness' Tourist Destination

Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization have newly certified seven sites including Hwaseong Maehyangri Peace Memorial Hall as '2026 Gyeonggi Province Wellness Tourist Destinations.' As a result, wellness tourism sites in the province have increased to 22 in total, including 15 sites that received certification last year.

The province and Gyeonggi Tourism Organization held the 'Gyeonggi Province Wellness Tourism Advisory Committee' on the 13th and conducted final certification review for 14 candidate sites from 10 cities and counties. On the 17th, they announced that seven sites were newly certified: Hwaseong Maehyangri Peace Memorial Hall, Yongin Beobryunsa Temple, Hanam Aquafield, Yangju Gana Art Park, Yeoju Mokah Museum and Hwanghaksan Arboretum, and Yangpyeong Health Tour Center.

'Wellness Tourism' is a concept combining 'Wellness'—which encompasses wellbeing, fitness, or happiness—with tourism, referring to tourism activities that restore and heal physical and mental health through travel. It is garnering attention as a high-value-added tourism industry alongside MICE and medical tourism, and the 'Healing Tourism Industry Act' has been in effect since April this year.

Hwaseong Maehyangri Peace Memorial Hall is a space that reinterprets the historical pain experienced by residents due to the U.S. Air Force firing range as values of peace and recovery. It received high evaluation for healing the trauma of artillery sounds that continued day and night through sound walk programs utilizing surrounding natural environments and buildings.

Yongin Beobryunsa Temple is a religious and cultural space where visitors can experience meditation and spiritual rest through temple food experiences and temple stays. In particular, seasonal temple food healing programs utilizing seasonal ingredients received favorable reviews.

Hanam Aquafield, Yangju Gana Art Park, Yeoju Mokah Museum and Hwanghaksan Arboretum, and Yangpyeong Health Tour Center were also newly certified as tourist destinations, recognized for their appeal through programs and tourism resources utilizing healing, art, nature, and health.

The province plans to provide certified tourist destinations with expert customized consultations, capacity-building education, and domestic and international promotion support. By strengthening content and operational capabilities tailored to each tourist site's characteristics, the province will also establish a foundation for selection as a 'Excellent Wellness Tourism Destination of the Republic of Korea.'

Gyeonggi Province began full-scale wellness tourism activation projects last year, initially certifying 15 tourist sites in the province. Adding seven sites this year, the province plans to cultivate wellness tourism content that reflects regional characteristics and establish a sustainable tourism model leading to expanded visitor stays and revitalization of surrounding commercial areas.

Park Rae-hyuk, Director of Gyeonggi Province's Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, stated, "We expect the newly certified tourist destinations to further enrich the appeal of Gyeonggi Province's wellness tourism." He added, "We will strengthen content that brings out the characteristics of each tourist site so that domestic and international visitors can stay in Gyeonggi Province to experience rest and healing, and work to ensure that increased visitor arrivals and extended stays lead to revitalization of the local economy."