Gamcheon Culture Village, a popular tourist destination in Busan known for its high share of international visitors (Image courtesy of Saha District)
BUSAN, Dec. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – Gamcheon Culture Village, a popular tourist destination in Busan known for its high share of international visitors, is launching new tourism initiatives utilizing vacant homes left behind by an aging population, aiming to extend visitors’ typically brief stays and increase economic benefits to the local community.
The Saha District Office announced on December 18 that it will implement tourism revitalization measures based on a master plan study completed last month. The study sought solutions to problems arising from the lack of systematic separation between tourist and residential areas while developing strategies to boost tourism.
Originally established by Korean War refugees, Gamcheon Culture Village transformed from an underdeveloped neighborhood into one of Busan’s premier tourist attractions through village art projects and urban regeneration initiatives. The village now draws 2.6 million visitors annually as of November 2024, with international tourists estimated to comprise 60 to 80% of visitors.
However, the study revealed that 56.9% of foreign tourists spend less than one hour in the village, with only 9% staying longer than four hours. Most international visitors simply disembark from tour buses, take photos at scenic viewpoints showcasing the village’s unique landscape, and depart.
This brief duration results in minimal spending on accommodations, food, beverages, and shopping, limiting economic benefits to local residents who endure tourism-related inconveniences.
The short stays are attributed to a lack of activities. While foreign tourists rated the village’s overall tourist attraction appeal at 4.14 out of 5 points, they gave available activities a lower score of 3.8 points.
To address these issues, the district plans to significantly expand tourism resources using approximately 88 vacant homes resulting from the aging population.
With a budget of 500 million won, the district will first purchase vacant properties to create living experience centers that showcase resident life from the 1950s and 60s, connecting with the Busan Education History Museum and Gamcheon Small Museum to offer historical experiences.
The district is also considering developing experiential accommodation facilities and village-style hotels. New programs will be developed to allow foreign visitors to experience the village more intimately through overnight stays.
To reduce resident inconvenience, the district is planning to separate tourist and residential areas. Officials are considering developing alleyways in areas with clusters of vacant homes for tourist routes while designating densely populated residential areas as special management zones with restricted tourist access.
A Saha District official stated, “Based on the research results, we are seeking the best solutions for coexistence between tourists and residents. We plan to begin purchasing vacant homes in January next year to develop various tourist facilities.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
