The Korea National Park Service announced Monday it will run a series of themed ecological tours across the country’s national parks from July 4 through Nov. 30.
The initiative will offer activities designed around valleys, coastal waters, and local culture.
The program, called “National Park Themed Ecological Tourism,” groups excursions under four categories: ecological travel, historical and cultural travel, scenic travel, and family travel, according to an article by The Korea Times.
Eight parks are participating, including Juwangsan, Dadohaehaesang, Sokrisan, Gyeongju, Hallyeohaesang, Seoraksan, Woraksan, and Wolchulsan.
Two tours stand out for summer. At Juwangsan National Park, the “Jeolgol Valley Splash Walk” marks a first for Korea National Park Service programs, allowing visitors to wade through the valley’s stream while observing freshwater ecosystems among the park’s gorges and cliffs.
The program runs July through August, and starting in September, it transitions to fall foliage walks and local apple-picking.
At Hallyeohaesang National Park, the “Seasonal Hallyeo Journey” takes participants island-hopping among the park’s scenic islands—Bijindo, Manjido, and Yeondaedo among them—while sampling regional cuisine including raw fish soup and grilled eel.
Local resident guides certified by the agency will accompany all tours. Registration opened Monday online.
“National park-themed eco-tourism is a new kind of travel where visitors can experience both nature and the unique cultural resources of local communities,” KNPS President Joo Dae-yeong said, adding that the agency would expand the program to boost regional economies.
For the outdoor recreation and hospitality industry, this structured public initiative underscores the growing commercial viability of experiential, destination-driven eco-tourism.