Yeongam, Da Nang eye stronger cultural, tourism ties
DNO - During a recent business trip to the Republic of Korea (RoK), a delegation from Da Nang Newspaper and Radio-Television (DNRT) met with Mr. Jeon Go Feel, General Director of the Yeongam Culture and Tourism Foundation. They discussed about Yeongam’s tourism strengths, ways to turn its historical and cultural heritage into tourism products, and prospects for Da Nang - Yeongam cooperation.
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According to Mr. Jeon Go Feel, Yeongam’s greatest advantage is Wolchulsan National Park, one of the RoK’s iconic national parks. On the slopes of Wolchulsan stands Dogapsa Temple, an ancient temple with a history of thousands of years.
Wolchulsan also boasts abundant natural resources, notably the Nam-saeng-i turtle, a highly protected native freshwater turtle in the RoK, drawing significant interest from both local residents and visitors.
Also, Yeongam holds a firefly festival. Several firefly species can be seen between May and October. This creates a truly unique natural landscape that not all localities in the RoK have.
The surrounding tea plantations blend harmoniously with Mount Wolchulsan, adding to the area’s scenic appeal.
Yeongam is also home to Mahan archaeological sites. These important sites offer insights into trade, cultural exchange and development between Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia along ancient maritime routes.
Together, these natural, cultural, and historical values create the appeal and competitiveness of Yeongam tourism.
Talking about how Yeongam leverages the story of National Preceptor Doseon to create tourism content, Mr. Jeon Go Feel said National Preceptor Doseon was a figure who lived approximately 700 years ago. He was born in this locality and spent a long time practicing his faith and studying geography, territory, and the spatial arrangement of the nation.
National Preceptor Doseon is a pivotal figure in Korean history. His ideology is closely linked to the construction of temples across various locations and concepts regarding the configuration of the landscape and its spiritual energy.
Therefore, several seminars, academic conferences, hands-on activities, and festivals regarding National Preceptor Doseon’s life, relics, and ideology have been organized, thereby gradually expanding tourism content centered on this figure.
Alongside National Preceptor Doseon, Yeongam is home to Wangin, a scholar from the Baekje era.
He is renowned for introducing various Baekje cultural achievements to Japan, including Chinese characters and techniques for making clothing, roof tiles, and paper. Wangin is considered a pivotal figure in the development of Japan's Asuka culture.
Scholar Wangin’s life and contributions are featured in Yeongam festivals, where interactive experiences, cultural exchanges with Japan, and a variety of programmes for visitors take place.
Sharing Yeongam’s role in the Ganghae-Yeong project, General Director Jeon Go Feel stated that Ganghae-Yeong is a collaborative initiative involving the neighboring localities of Gangjin, Haenam, and Yeongam. This is also a model similar to Da Nang’s cooperation with other destinations along Central Vietnam’s Heritage Route. As these localities join forces, they will create a synergistic effect.
The Yeongam Cultural and Tourism Foundation is currently coordinating with its counterparts in Gangjin and Haenam to foster closer cooperation.
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Regarding expectations for cooperation with Da Nang, Mr. Jeon Go Feel affirmed that Yeongam has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and DNRT, reflecting a commitment to cooperation in the years ahead.
Yeongam pays special attention to artist and tourist exchanges, local information sharing, and special events between the two sides. It is hoped that the Vietnam-Korea Festival will continue to be held regularly so that artists from both sides can periodically visit each other for exchanges.
Looking ahead, Yeongam also aims to expand cooperation beyond the cultural, tourism, and media sectors, looking toward collaboration with the Da Nang city government and relevant agencies.
The Yeongam Cultural and Tourism Foundation can serve as a bridge, creating opportunities for people with suitable skills from Vietnam to come to Yeongam to work, conduct business, and participate in local life.
The foundation will continue to do its utmost to foster the relationship and cooperation between Vietnam and the RoK in general, and between Yeongam and Da Nang in particular.
The exchange programmes in culture, the arts, tourism, and people-to-people ties will help the people of both countries better understand each other.