UNGOK
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
2021
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An eco-friendly village surrounded by prehistoric dolmens
Ungok Village is located in an area surrounding a reservoir with World Heritage Dolmens and the Ungok Ramsar Wetland. The village is famous for its representative cultural heritage: the dolmens, which are part of the megalithic culture. From the 60,000 dolmens around the world, 40,000 are located in Korea and 1,665 of them are found in the Gochang area. 447 of the dolmens located in Ungok are registered as UNESCO World Heritage. As regards the natural heritage, the village stands out for the Ungok Ramsar Wetland which is adjacent to the dolmen site. The wetland is a vital natural resource that absorbs carbon dioxide and reduces damage caused by climate change. The Ungok Ramsar Wetland is a rare type of low-lying mountainous palustrine wetland that is recognized for its biodiversity value. The wetland is a globally protected natural heritage registered at the Ramsar Convention on April 6, 2011.
Ungok Village creates added value by connecting tourism to the village’s major business of agriculture. The Gochang Ungok Ramsar Wetland Ecotourism Council leads the efforts to provide Ecotourism Programs, Farm-to-Table, and Saturday Local Market, by leveraging the village’s locally produced agricultural products and residents’ know-how and experiences.
HIGHLIGHTS
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How depopulation becomes resource
In 1981 the area nearby Ungok was depopulated in order to build a dam. To date, that area has transformed into a very rich wetland, home to many rare species of animals and plants. Now, the plan is to let the world discover the history and nature of this area that has found a new purpose.
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Being responsible for our own heritage
Ungok Village has the great responsibility to operate and manage the Gochang Dolmen Park and Site. The village is founding its way to balance preservation and promotion of the dolmen heritage, focusing on driving the village’s future towards a sustainable path, becoming an example of ecotourism.
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Stay-cation as the way to go
The village is focusing on attracting long-term travelers, to do so the locals are working for renewing the old, abandoned houses. The plan for the near future is to be able to host up to 150 staycationers each year, on a total population of 383 people in 230 households.
