By Lee Hyo-sik
When the country’s southern resort island of Jeju was named one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature in a worldwide poll early Saturday morning, one Jeju native stood tall among the cheering crowd gathered at the Jeju Art Center.
It was Yang Won-chan, secretary general of the National Committee for Jeju New7Wonders of Nature, who has been spearheading the island’s successful bid over the past year.
Yang, who runs an orthopedic clinic in southern Seoul, decided to join the Jeju campaign in October last year after Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Governor Woo Keun-min strongly requested him to do so. They, both Jeju natives, have known each other for over 20 years.
To launch a nationwide campaign body, Yang thought it was necessary to get influential and at the same time, respected public figures involved. He approached former Prime Minister Chung Un-chan and persuaded him to head the soon-to-be established organization.
After Chung agreed to assume a leading campaign role, the committee was formally launched on Dec. 13, 2010.
Yang allowed the committee to set up an operation on the fourth floor of his eight-story clinic building in southern Seoul free of charge. He traveled to Japan, China and other foreign countries numerous times to campaign for his home town at own expense. Yang also traveled across the country to meet officials from religious organizations, civic groups, enterprises and municipal administration, asking them to cast a vote for the island.
He also tried to recruit many celebrities, including Jeju-born actress Ko Doo-sim, as the committee’s cultural ambassadors to encourage more Koreans and non-Koreans to vote for the island.
``We received no state fund. But I gladly paid out of my own pocket to operate the committee. Donations from campaign supporters nationwide also helped finance the campaign for Jeju,’’ the secretary general said.
But the shortage of funds was not the most daunting task facing the campaign body, he said. ``It was a negative public perception toward the Swiss-based organization New7Wonders Foundation, which administers the worldwide voting. Some media outlets questioned its credibility, claiming even if Jeju was chosen, it would not help boost its global image and tourism industry. But these arguments are totally groundless.’’
Yang said the foundation is as credible as any other international organizations such as FIFA, stressing that Jeju’s selection as one of the world’s new seven natural wonders will provide a much-needed boost to Jeju’s tourism sector.
``Tourism accounts for up to 80 percent of Jeju’s economic output. It is a must for the island to attract as many visitors as possible. To do so, we also need help from the central government and private businesses. Among others, a new airport should be built as soon as possible to bring more tourists to the island,’’ he said.