Gyeongju pushes to transform ginkgo village into year-round tourist destination

Gyeongju is set to boost the tourism appeal of Dori Ginkgo Village, one of North Gyeongsang Province's most celebrated autumn destinations.

The city announced Monday it will launch a development project to transform the village in Seo-myeon into a four-season tourist attraction.

The project will invest 51 million won ($33,900) to improve the scenic environment and expand hands-on tourism content.

By the end of this year, the city plans to restore murals, rooftops and fences throughout the village and plant seasonal flowers, including marigolds, to create year-round visual appeal.

The city will also upgrade tourist amenities — including installing screens around public restrooms — and operate a visitor engagement program called the "Dori Ginkgo Village 3-Step Certification Challenge."

Dori Ginkgo Village is one of Gyeongju's signature attractions, drawing photographers and tourists from across the country with its dense forest paths lined with hundreds of ginkgo trees and the golden foliage that blankets the area each autumn.

"We will continue to expand tourism content so that Dori Ginkgo Village can establish itself as a year-round destination that visitors want to stay and explore, not just a fall attraction," Gyeongju Mayor Ju Nak-young said. "We will also work to build a distinctive tourism environment linked to local resources to help revitalize the regional economy."