Once the Gwangdeok Tunnel opens in 2031, travel time between Pocheon and Sane-myeon in Hwa-cheon will decrease from 26 minutes to just 5 minutes. While the distance will shorten, it does not guarantee that tourists will choose to stay in Sane-myeon.
The Gwangdeok Tunnel could serve as a gateway to attract visitors from the metropolitan area to Hwa-cheon, or it could become a conduit for local spending to flow out to the capital region. The outcome will depend on what Sane-myeon prepares in the five years leading up to the tunnel's opening. This is why residents view the Gwangdeok Tunnel not merely as a transportation project, but as a matter of survival for their community.
The economy of Sane-myeon has long relied heavily on consumption from military bases and soldiers. While cooperation between civilians and the military is essential, there is a growing call to break free from a structure that leaves the local economy vulnerable to changes in military conditions, such as a decrease in personnel and visitors.
Residents of Sane-myeon expressed, “While coexistence with the military is important, we must move away from an economy that depends on it. For Sane-myeon to survive, we need to create a structure where tourists come, stay, and spend.”
However, the alternatives for Sane-myeon are not limited to new artificial tourist facilities. The area's rich history, dating back approximately 350 years, and its natural beauty spanning millions of years are already valuable tourism resources.
Why did Kim Su-jung choose the northern slopes of Hwaak Mountain?
The northern slopes of Hwaak Mountain feature the Samil Valley, Gokun Valley, and the site of Hwaeumdong Jeongsa. In 1668, during the late Joseon period, Confucian scholar Kim Su-jung (1624-1701) became acquainted with the area's landscape when he was appointed as the governor of Pyeonggang. In 1670, he built Gokun Jeongsa and selected nine scenic spots along the valley to manage Gokun Valley.
After stepping down from his official position in 1689, he established a residence in Hwaeumdong and taught his students. He arranged Samiljeong, Songpungjeong, Bujiam, and Yujidang within nature to embody his Confucian ideals.
The site of Hwaeumdong Jeongsa is now designated as a cultural monument in Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. Although most of the original structures have disappeared, Samiljeong and Songpungjeong have been restored, and inscriptions on rocks and remnants from the past remain.
In around 1682, Kim Su-jung commissioned painter Jo Se-gyeol to depict the actual scenery of Gokun Valley. The 'Gokun Valley Map,' which captures the 8-kilometer valley, continues to convey the natural beauty of the late Joseon period and the ideals pursued by scholars.
Gokun Valley also bears traces of ancient geological activity, including folds and faults in Precambrian metamorphic rocks. The ability to encounter both geological history spanning millions of years and the cultural history of Joseon scholars in one valley distinguishes it from other tourist sites.
However, whether this historical and cultural value is adequately communicated to tourists remains a separate issue. If visitors only see the beautiful valley and old pavilions, their visit may be brief. There needs to be interpretation and exploration programs that explain why Kim Su-jung chose this place as his ideal and what the Gokun Valley Map records to create sustainable tourism content.
Scattered resources do not yet constitute a tourism industry.
The water flowing down from Hwaak Mountain creates unique landscapes and geological features along Samil Valley, including pools, rapids, waterfalls, and massive rock formations. At the upper reaches of the valley lies the distinctive Chotdae Rock.
Hwa-cheon County has conducted a separate academic investigation into Chotdae Rock, encompassing not only the rock itself but also the geological, scenic, and humanistic characteristics of Hwaak Mountain, Samil Valley, and Hwaeumdong Jeongsa.
The challenge is that these resources are not yet functioning as a cohesive tourism product. While Hwaak Mountain, Samil Valley, Chotdae Rock, Hwaeumdong Jeongsa, and Gokun Valley each exist, there is insufficient connectivity in terms of exploration routes, integrated guidance systems, expert interpretation, and experiential programs. Even with historical and cultural resources, if tourists do not understand their significance, they will only stop briefly to take photos.
Having many tourism resources does not equate to having a developed tourism industry. A concrete operational system is needed to convert natural and cultural heritage into longer visitor stays and increased local income.
A 9.5 billion won forestry project: Connection before facilities.
In preparation for the Gwangdeok Tunnel opening, Hwa-cheon County is advancing projects to establish a botanical garden and a native plant garden in Sane-myeon. According to the county, the 'Korean Peninsula Center Botanical Garden' in Gwangdeok-ri is set to be developed over approximately 25 hectares from 2028 to 2032, with a total project cost of 6 billion won for exhibition, viewing, education, and experiential facilities.
The county plans to initiate related services as early as this year and begin the necessary permitting processes for the botanical garden. The native plant garden, 'Hwamokwon' in Sachang-ri, will also be developed from 2028 to 2032, with a total budget of 3.5 billion won for exhibition areas, conservation and propagation facilities, and observation and learning spaces.
The total budget for these two projects is 9.5 billion won. The key is not just to create these two facilities as separate projects but to connect them with existing tourism resources. If the botanical garden and Hwamokwon are isolated from Hwaak Mountain, Samil Valley, Gokun Valley, and Hwaeumdong Jeongsa, they may simply add more visiting facilities.
Conversely, if a route is created where visitors learn about the forest ecology of Hwaak Mountain at the botanical garden, observe geology at Samil Valley and Chotdae Rock, and walk along the history of Kim Su-jung and Gokun Valley, Sane-myeon could become a unified forest and cultural tourism zone.
Hwa-cheon County Mayor Kim Se-hoon stated, “Hwa-cheon County will cultivate the forest industry as a core development engine by linking tourism, recreation, and healing.”
For this vision to translate into actual income for residents, a structure must be designed from the outset that involves local participation in lodging, food, agricultural and forestry product sales, and village experiences. There are also calls to use the duration of tourist stays and their spending as performance metrics rather than just the number of visitors.
Tourism routes must be completed before the tunnel.
The Gwangdeok Tunnel is scheduled to begin construction in the first half of 2027, with an opening targeted for 2031. The botanical garden and Hwamokwon are set to be developed from 2028 to 2032.
If the current plans proceed as scheduled, the timeline for the Gwangdeok Tunnel's opening will coincide with the development period of major tourist facilities. Even if the projects progress as planned, it is likely that the Gwangdeok Tunnel will open first, with the botanical garden and Hwamokwon completed later.
Therefore, rather than waiting for large facilities to be completed, existing resources should be connected now. Humanities tours themed around Kim Su-jung and Gokun Valley, ecological tourism in Samil Valley, geological interpretation of Chotdae Rock, and cultural explanations of Hwaeumdong Jeongsa can all begin with relatively low facility investment. Additionally, research into old paths, place names, legends, and local histories should be expedited to create tourism narratives.
Basic tourism infrastructure, such as parking lots, restrooms, safe trails, and integrated signage, must also be established. Guidelines for using the natural environment and cultural heritage without causing damage, as well as management plans for the valley, are also necessary.
Once the Gwangdeok Tunnel opens, Sane-myeon will be closer to the metropolitan area. However, proximity alone will not ensure that tourists choose to stay.
It is essential to weave together the ideal discovered by Kim Su-jung nearly 350 years ago, the geological traces of millions of years found in Gokun Valley, the forests of Hwaak Mountain, and the waters of Samil Valley into a single narrative. Connecting this with food, lodging, and experiences run by local residents is crucial for transforming tourism into a source of income for the region.
What Sane-myeon needs is not just another tourist facility, but a comprehensive tourism strategy that answers why visitors should stop here and why they should stay for a day. The clock is already ticking for Sane-myeon as it approaches the Gwangdeok Tunnel's opening in 2031.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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