Jinju's Seungsan nominated for UN Best Tourism Villages program

A sign for Buja Hanok, a hanok-style guesthouse built and operated by Jinju City, can be seen in Seungsan Village, South Gyeongsang Province. Courtesy of Jinju City

The village of Seungsan in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, has been nominated for Best Tourism Villages, a UN Tourism program, Sunday.

A total of six villages nationwide were selected as candidates this year, with Seungsan Village the only entry from South Gyeongsang Province.

Launched in 2021, the Best Tourism Villages initiative aims to promote the role of tourism in rural development by helping address depopulation and regional imbalances while identifying sustainable growth models.

Candidate villages are evaluated based on criteria including cultural and natural resources, heritage preservation and utilization, as well as economic, social and environmental sustainability.

The village has strong historical and cultural significance, with the founders of several of Korea's influential conglomerates and companies coming from the area, earning it a reputation as a “hub of K-entrepreneurship.”

Tourism infrastructure combining hands-on experience programs with high-quality accommodations is believed to have contributed to the village’s strong evaluation in the selection process. Key examples include the Jinju K-Entrepreneurship Center, formerly Jisu Elementary School, and Buja Hanok in Seungsan Village, a traditional hanok-style guesthouse.

UN Tourism is set to select the Best Tourism Villages in October, following further evaluations. Villages that make the final list will receive official recognition from the organization, along with access to international networks and other benefits to help enhance global visibility and attract more foreign visitors.

A city official said the nomination will serve as an opportunity to introduce the village’s outstanding tourism resources and operational model to the global community, adding that the city plans to explore ways to better utilize its tourism assets in connection with related projects.