The Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City has selected Gatgoeul Village in Dolsan-eup, Yeosu, as the Rural Experience Village for November. With the autumn kimjang season underway, a program allowing visitors to harvest local specialty Dolsan mustard and make mustard kimchi is gaining attention.
According to the Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City on November 7, Gatgoeul Village offers a unique blend of rural charm and coastal scenery, surrounded by the sea on three sides.
The village's strength lies in its experiential programs centered around Dolsan mustard, a representative specialty of Yeosu.
Grown in the coastal winds, Dolsan mustard is known for its distinctive spicy flavor and aroma, making it a key ingredient in Yeosu's traditional dish, mustard kimchi.
During the kimjang season in November, visitors can participate in a program where they harvest Dolsan mustard, prepare it, and mix it with seasonings to complete their own mustard kimchi.
This experience goes beyond simply making kimchi; it allows families and students to engage with the production process of local agricultural products and traditional food culture.
Additionally, various programs utilizing local agricultural products are available, including barley bread making, mustard candy making, and natural soap crafting.
In addition to agricultural experiences, visitors can also enjoy mudflat activities linked to the village. This approach leverages the coexistence of agriculture and fishing in the southern coastal region, providing children and youth with opportunities for nature learning, while urban residents can experience rural life and culture.
The village is equipped with facilities to accommodate group tourists.
It features an experience center that can host over 100 people, facilitating field trips for kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as various group programs for foreigners interested in traditional Korean culture.
Accommodation options include five four-person rooms, along with nearby hanok lodging and pensions, enabling extended rural tourism stays.
The Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City believes that rural experience programs linked to local specialties and natural environments will not only attract visitors to rural areas but also help expand the consumption of local agricultural products and increase farmers' incomes.
Cha Eun-ryeong, an official from the Agricultural Policy Division of Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City, stated, "Yeosu's Gatgoeul Village is a place where visitors can enjoy a variety of experiential programs utilizing the beautiful natural scenery and local specialties of the southern coast."
She added, "We will work to discover and continuously support rural experience content that utilizes unique local resources to attract rural tourists and increase farmers' incomes."
Meanwhile, there are 173 designated rural experience villages in Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City, with 1.26 million visitors recorded last year, generating sales of 13.8 billion won.
As rural experience villages play a role beyond mere tourist destinations, contributing to income generation in rural areas and enhancing exchanges between urban and rural communities, the importance of differentiated experience programs utilizing local specialties and unique rural resources is growing.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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