Suncheon holds environmental festival

Suncheon, a scenic city in South Jeolla Province, will host an environmental festival next week.

The Suncheon EcoGeo Festival will feature a variety of events ― music, arts and family activities ― along with some nature-themed events intended to raise environmental awareness.

Suncheon is globally recognized for its ecological value with its wetland Suncheon Bay, home to migratory birds and species like mudskippers and mud crabs.

The weekend festival, which runs from May 25-27, also aims to attract visitors to Yeosu Expo as it operates shuttle buses twice a day between the two cities. 

“We hope the festival will also promote the local tourism industry. The festival has three themes ― life, memories and future ― all illustrated at three different festival venues,” said Yoo Choon-ja, director of tourism promotion division of Suncheon City Government.

The festival will take place in three different locations ― Dongcheon, Jorye Lake Park and a film set.

Dongcheon will be transformed into a scenic park with special facilities such as a water bridge, water park and a mudskipper-themed tunnel during the festival.

Activities such as kayaking and water biking are available at the river.

At Jorye Lake Park, visitors can take a break from crowds and get lost in thought at book cafes.

Mountaineer Um Hong-gil will also give a special lecture about his adventures at the lake park.

For middle-aged visitors, the festival will recreate the streets of the 1960s and ‘80s at the film set, a location for several TV dramas set in those times.

Visitors can enjoy hands-on experiences at the craft-making event at Dongcheon Nature School and design and create their own garden for a competition.

The festival opens with a concert featuring pansori singer Jang Sa-ik and popular trot singers Tae Jin-ah, Nam Jin and Song Dae-gwan on Friday evening. It closes with traditional music performances on Sunday evening.

Admission to the festival is free.

The shuttle bus between Suncheon and Yeosu operates twice a day at 09:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. from Suncheon Bay to Yeosu Expo and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. from Yeosu Expo to Suncheon Bay everyday during the expo period till Aug. 12.

The bus fare is 4,000 won for adults, 3,000 won for teenagers and 2,000 won for children.

For more information, visit www.ecofest.or.kr or call (061) 749-4221~4223.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)