The Hwachun County government has raised the general admission fee for its park golf course to 15,000 won while offering a 10,000 won refund in local currency to encourage spending in the area. However, golfers from outside the region have expressed disappointment over limited food options, while local restaurant owners noted that visitors tend to prefer simple meals.
According to the official announcement from the Hwachun County park golf course on October 12, the new admission fee and refund program have been in effect since September 28. General visitors now pay 15,000 won, up from the previous 5,000 won, and receive a 10,000 won gift certificate. Although cash refunds are not available, using the certificate at participating businesses means the net cost remains the same at 5,000 won.
For seniors aged 65 and older, the fee is 14,000 won, while individuals with disabilities, veterans, and those with distinguished military service pay 12,500 won, each receiving a 10,000 won gift certificate. Children and teenagers continue to pay 3,000 won and are not eligible for the refund. The gift certificate is limited to one per person per day. If visitors use another course on the same day, they can present their original payment receipt at the ticket booth to pay only 5,000 won based on the adult rate.
Visitors who stay at licensed accommodations in the area can obtain admission tickets on-site without prior reservations by presenting proof of their stay. Submitting a lodging receipt allows for a full waiver of fees for two people on the day of and the following day. For receipts exceeding 30,000 won, an additional 10,000 won discount is applied for each extra person. However, there are restrictions on course usage due to tournaments and closures, and groups of 20 or more must inquire about availability before visiting.
Participants in a recent park golf event in Hwachun expressed satisfaction with the course's scenery and facilities. However, they were disappointed by the lack of local cuisine, noting that many menu items, such as blood sausage soup and kimchi stew, are commonly found in urban areas. They did mention that dishes like boiled chicken and spicy freshwater fish stew were relatively unique options.
A local restaurant owner in Hwachun-eup and another in Sannae-myeon explained that park golf visitors typically prefer quick lunch options. Groups of three to four often order meals that are served quickly, and overnight guests do not significantly increase their food spending. They expressed uncertainty about the steady influx of tourists, making them hesitant to invest in distinctive menu items.
While the refund program aims to encourage spending at local businesses, the use of gift certificates does not necessarily translate to new sales, as existing meal costs could be covered by the certificates. If there are 200,000 paid admissions eligible for refunds annually, the total payout could reach 2 billion won. To assess the actual impact on the local economy, it will be necessary to analyze gift certificate usage alongside additional spending and repeat visits.
Hwachun County plans to expand the use of gift certificates through festivals, tourism resources, and sports event prizes. County Mayor Kim Se-hoon stated, “We will expand the circulation of local currency while increasing the number of participating businesses and strictly monitoring any fraudulent use of gift certificates. Our goal is to establish a circulation model centered on local currency to ensure money flows throughout the local economy.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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