Maehyang-ri Peace Memorial Hall Becomes Hwaseong's First Wellness Tourism Destination
Hwaseong Special City (Mayor Jung Myeong-geun) announced on the 26th that Maehyang-ri Peace Memorial Hall has been selected as Hwaseong's first 'Gyeonggi-style Wellness Tourism Site.'
As the purpose of travel has evolved beyond simple sightseeing and leisure to focus on caring for physical and mental health and experiencing daily recovery, 'wellness tourism' is gaining attention as a new tourism field. In particular, with the implementation of the Healing Tourism Industry Act in April this year, the value of healing and recovery through tourism is becoming increasingly important.
Seven new sites in Gyeonggi Province were selected as Gyeonggi-style Wellness Tourism Sites this year, with Maehyang-ri Peace Memorial Hall being the first in Hwaseong City. With this selection, Maehyang-ri Peace Memorial Hall has become the first tourism hub for wellness tourism in Hwaseong City, formally introducing healing and recovery-focused tourism content utilizing the region's unique history and nature.
Maehyang-ri Peace Memorial Hall is a space that has transformed the historical suffering of Maehyang-ri, which was used as a U.S. Air Force bombing range for approximately 50 years, into the values of 'peace and recovery.'
In particular, at a location once marked by bombing and fighter jet noise, the memorial hall operates programs such as 'sound walking' that encourage visitors to listen to natural and everyday sounds, as well as yoga and singing bowl sessions that help release tension and promote recovery for body and mind, allowing visitors to experience Maehyang-ri's distinctive character through various senses.
During the selection process, the transformation of a space bearing memories of bombing into a place of healing and recovery through sound walking that utilizes the natural environment surrounding the memorial hall and former military facilities received positive evaluation.
This year's sound walking can be experienced at the 'First Maehyang-ri Peace Memorial Hall M:UTE CAMP,' to be held at Maehyang-ri Peace Memorial Hall on September 19. The program is divided into daytime and nighttime sessions to allow participants to experience the varying sounds and atmosphere of Maehyang-ri throughout the day and night, and participation is available through on-site reservations on the day of the event.
Through this year's program operations, Maehyang-ri Peace Memorial Hall plans to examine participant responses, visitor flow, and experiential elements. With this selection as a 'Gyeonggi-style Wellness Tourism Site,' the facility aims to develop sound walking into the signature wellness content of Maehyang-ri. Based on customized consulting from Gyeonggi Province and Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, the memorial hall will refine program composition, travel routes, and experiential elements, organically connecting Maehyang-ri's history, natural environment, and 'sound' as a sensory resource to create a differentiated program that will be unveiled in 2027.
Baek Young-mi, Director of Culture and Tourism, stated, "Maehyang-ri is a place where residents' efforts have transformed long-held memories of bombing and noise into a space of peace and daily life. With this selection as an opportunity, we will develop Maehyang-ri's unique history, nature, and the value of quietude into tourism content, enabling visitors to directly experience the meaning of peace and recovery here."