The Jeju Stone Park in Jocheon-eup, Jeju City, known for its Sky Pond (Image courtesy of the Jeju Stone Park)
JEJU, Nov. 27 (Korea Bizwire) – The Jeju Stone Park in Jocheon-eup, Jeju City, known for its Sky Pond that captivates photo-enthusiastic MZ generation visitors, has been named Jeju’s top public tourist destination.
According to an announcement by Jeju Province on November 26, the park earned the highest honors for its innovative attractions, including the Sky Pond photography spot popular among young visitors, traditional cultural experience spaces, the Jeju Stone Culture Geological Festival, and special exhibitions at the Five Hundred Generals Gallery.
The Sky Pond, located along the park’s first course (Garden of Mythology), is a circular water stage symbolically designed to represent the Death Cauldron and Muljangori from Jeju mythology, where the legendary giant goddess Seolmundae Halmang allegedly drowned, as well as the Baengnokdam crater of Hallasan.
The 40-meter diameter structure, with a circumference of 125 meters, also serves as a venue for theatrical performances, dance shows, and concerts.
Other winners in this year’s evaluation include the Jeju Provincial Art Museum and Byeolbit Nuri Park as excellent tourist sites, while the Seogwipo Healing Forest and Seogwipo Astronomical Science Culture Museum received commendation awards.
The World Natural Heritage Center and Seobok Exhibition Hall were recognized as most improved sites, showing significant score increases from the previous year.
The annual evaluation of public tourist sites is conducted by the Public Tourist Site Operation Evaluation Committee, which assesses 31 locations across the island based on hospitality services, content planning and operation, and visitor convenience.
Award recipients receive monetary prizes: 700,000 won for the top site, 500,000 won each for excellent sites, 300,000 won each for commendation awards, and 200,000 won each for most improved sites.
“We conduct these annual evaluations to strengthen the competitiveness of public tourist sites and identify areas for improvement in tourist facilities,” said Kim Hee-chan, director of Jeju’s Tourism Exchange Bureau.
“We will promptly address improvement points for each site to maintain high-quality tourism services.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
