By Shim Jae-yun
Hadong County in South Gyeongsang Province is noted for scenic natural environment as it is cozily nestled on land alongside Seomjin River flowing into South Sea. It is also embraced by Mt. Jiri, the most populous destinations for nature loving people in Korea.
Just off Handong is Hallyeohaesang National Park, a 120km-long sea route dotted with numerous islets and historical heritages including those related to Admiral Yi Sun-sin who fought against Japan during the Joseon Kingdom.
“Hadong is the only county possessing two national parks in the country,’’ Cho You-haeng, mayor of Hadong County said in an interview with The Korea Times.
Recognized for its eco-friendly circumstance, Hadong’s Akyang-myeon district was named a slow city by the Citta Slow International Assembly on Feb. 6, 2009.
“The inspection team during a visit to the town commented about the Korea’s first wide tea plantation called “hadong-nokcha” and Daebong persimmons, both of which were presented to the kings during the early Joseon Kingdom,” he said.
Dubbed “gift from heaven” the tea is grown naturally without using chemicals at all replete with peculiar tastes and “mind-soothing” fragrance.
Akyang is also known with the setting of ‘Toji’ (The Land), a monumental epic novel written by Park Gyeong-ri, where the visitors can get a glance on the lives of the people during the Joseon Kingdom, with focus on relations encompassing the noble class and the subordinate ordinary people in a farm village.
The Hwagae Market has been a symbol of the regional harmony as it is located along the border with Gurye County in South Jeolla Province. Since a popular signer Cho Young-nam released his song “Hwagae Market,” the place has been frequented by tourists from around the country as well as nearby residents.
“Visitors will be able to enjoy clean water, wind and sunshine with green tea in the company of Hadong’s friendly residents,” Cho said.
Hadong is now preparing a second leap forward a shipbuilding hub of the nation, for which it signed a contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering and other companies for the development of Galsa Bay.
``The plan will enable the town to emerge stronger with population of more than 120,000 from the current 51,000 as an alternative shipbuilding industrial center of the country,” Cho said.
Touching upon the wariness on possible negative impact, Cho stressed the need for environment-friendly development.
“The development will be pursued in a strict principle of preserving the environment and maintaining the town’s fame as eco-friendly slow city,’’ he said.
As a native of Hadong, Cho began his career as a petty 9-degree official at a district office in 1967. Thanks to diligence and passion for his hometown, he was popularly elected the governor for three times since 2002.