Chilgok children's play center draws 51% more visitors after private-funded renovation

A renovated children's play and exhibition space inside the Chilgok Hoguk Peace Memorial in North Gyeongsang Province has emerged as a popular family destination, drawing growing crowds of children and parents since its reopening.

Cumulative visitors to the memorial from March through May reached 45,476 — up about 51 percent from 30,107 during the same period last year, according to Chilgok-gun.

Group reservations from kindergartens and daycare centers are booked more than a month in advance, and family visitors consistently arrive on weekends not only from nearby Daegu, Gumi, Gimcheon and Seongju but also from more distant areas.

The children's peace experience center, known as "Mom's Comfortable Playground," completed its renovation in March and was redesigned as a family-friendly space where children and parents can spend time together.

The interior features an open layout that allows guardians to keep an eye on children from any point in the room, with shock-absorbing flooring and rounded edges installed to improve safety.

The seamless integration of play and exhibition spaces has extended the average length of visits to the memorial and boosted visitor satisfaction.

"Every time we come for a field trip, it's the first place the children run to," said Shim Geum-suk, director of the Gungnip Hupore Children's Center. "Parents and teachers are just as happy as the children because it can be used regardless of the weather."

The transformation was driven by proactive fundraising. To reduce the burden on the county budget, Chilgok-gun pursued private financing and secured project funds after being selected for a nationwide competition jointly run by Lotte Group and the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation, channeling the money into the renovation.

"We will continue to pursue competitive grant projects and private funding to deliver changes that residents can feel in their daily lives," county chief Kim Jae-uk said.