The 2024 Gyeongnam Goseong Dinosaur World Expo campaign has ended. The 2024 Gyeongnam Goseong Dinosaur World Expo, held under the theme of ’Dinosaurs and Me’, provided precious memories of fall to visitors who visited the event venue filled with colorful autumn leaves.
Goseong-gun Mayor Lee Sang-geun held a press briefing at the county office conference room on the 7th and said that the ‘2024 Gyeongnam Goseong Dinosaur World Expo’ held at the Danghangpo Tourist Site for 33 days from October 2 to November 3 in Goseong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, ‘Korea’s No. 1 dinosaur site’, was a success. It was announced that it was completed.
During the 33-day event period, 184,051 paying visitors visited, and sales of 4.1 billion won were achieved with a project cost of 2.7 billion won. In particular, despite the adverse conditions of frequent rainfall during the event, the event received a great response from visitors through new and differentiated programs such as a talking AI dinosaur, reptile exhibition, circus performance, LP music cafe, and barbecue tasting event, as well as an upgraded parade. This is evaluated as the successful result of efforts to develop content that is differentiated from the previous Expo.
In particular, during the expo period, 140 local staff were hired, labor costs of about 400 million won were paid, and it also had a positive impact on the local economy through the operation of a local specialty product store. In addition, it contributed to revitalizing the local economy by distributing 60 million won worth of local currency, including Goseong Love Gift Certificates, to on-site ticket buyers over a certain amount.
As a result of a survey conducted on visitors, there was a high level of satisfaction with the overall operation of the event, and 94% of respondents sent a positive signal that they would visit the Dinosaur Expo when it is held in the future. However, the need to improve food quality and some outdated facilities was raised.
Goseong County Mayor Lee Sang-geun said, “The 2024 Gyeongnam Goseong Dinosaur World Expo successfully completed its 33-day journey. “This Expo was loved by many visitors for its diverse content despite difficult weather conditions,” he said. “The success of the Expo is thanks to the dedicated efforts of volunteers, residents, and officials. In the future, we will show further progress through continuous content development and facility improvement, and by reflecting surveys and various opinions, the next Dinosaur Expo will further develop popular programs, including parades and circus performances, and provide content that can satisfy various age groups. “We will create a festival that everyone can enjoy,” he said.
Meanwhile, Goseong-gun has been selected for various public contest projects, including the Korea Forest Service’s urban forest, and is contributing to improving the quality of life of residents by responding to climate change, which is emerging as a global issue, as well as implementing forest welfare.
In particular, this year, as climate change is serious due to global warming, the importance of environmental problems such as air pollution, environmental pollution, and heat waves has become more important than ever, and the function of urban forests as a nature-based solution is being emphasized. Urban forests play an important role in responding to the climate crisis by absorbing carbon and alleviating the urban heat island phenomenon, and in order to quickly respond to this, Goseong-gun is challenging the ongoing public contest to create urban forests to create and improve living spaces closely related to the lives of residents. Contributing.
Climate response urban forest creation project
This is a project to plant fine dust reduction trees recommended by the Korea Forest Service on 1ha of unused land at the Bugok Sleep Rest Area in Samnak-ri, Maam-myeon on National Highway 14 by investing 1 billion won in national and local funds through a public contest by the Korea Forest Service in 2024.
After the expansion of National Highway 14, this site was used as a rest area for bugok sleepers and an idle state-owned land. About 10,900 thorn trees, zelkova trees, etc. were planted to fill the area with the fresh and subtle scent of silver and golden trees in the fall. In addition, hydrangeas are planted in parallel with Metashequoi, which has an excellent ability to reduce fine dust, and along the trails, so that the fresh and attractive hydrangeas bloom in abundance in the summer, providing something to see for sleepy rest area users and local residents, giving them a moment of rest. Construction began in February and was completed in October.
Living-friendly forest creation project
This is a project to create a garden near Wolchi Village with the theme of a space where village residents can communicate, share, and heal by investing 500 million won in national and local funds on unused land around Donggoseong IC, the gateway to Georyu-myeon.
In order to provide a comfortable resting place for nearby villagers, visitors to the Eom Hong-gil Exhibition Hall, hikers, and visitors to Manhwabangcho Garden, about 10,500 pine trees were planted, and a red clay paved trail and a wooden bridge were installed for convenient access for residents, providing both beauty and convenience. It was created as a rest park, and construction began in April of this year and was completed in October for use by local residents and visitors.
Green funding support project
This is a green infrastructure project to create a shelter space for disabled people and workers by investing 300 million won in government funds on the idle land of Angel’s House in Shinri, Maam-myeon, where the socially underprivileged live.
Construction began in April and was completed in October as a project to plant about 1,300 pop trees and install convenience facilities such as an outdoor stage and drinking fountain. In particular, ‘Angel’s House’ held the ‘Nanum Forest Opening Ceremony and Small Concert’ on October 20th to commemorate the creation of the Sharing Forest, and plans to hold a concert at the Sharing Forest every year in the future. It is expected that the green fund support project will serve as an example of further increasing the natural utilization of the green sharing forest as a meaningful space shared between the forest (garden), facility residents, and workers.
Continuous promotion of forest welfare
In addition, as part of the forest welfare revitalization project in Goseong-gun, various projects are being carried out, such as reorganizing ‘smart gardens’ in public facilities such as ’Galmobong Recreational Forest’, ‘Vitalization of Namsan Park Creation’, ‘Vitalization of Yeonhwasan Provincial Park’, and maintenance of small parks and street trees using the green space maintenance team. We are actively working to improve rest areas for citizens and green the city.
2025 public offering selection project
Goseong-gun was selected for next year’s ‘Climate Responsive Urban Forest’ project and invested 1 billion won to create it in Samdeok-ri, Hoehwa-myeon, the remaining idle land on National Route 14, ‘Creation of Ssamzi Forest’ in Giwol-ri, Goseong-eup, and ‘Geumgangwon Comprehensive Home Center’ in Hoihwa-myeon. We plan to create a green sharing forest.
A Goseong-gun official said, “We will continue to challenge various contest projects to create a green Goseong in order to systematically and actively respond to climate change and provide a resting place for residents.” He also added, “By promoting these contest projects, we will provide public interest functions such as fine dust reduction. “We will actively strive to realize forest welfare for residents by creating a forest (garden) that is close to residents’ lives,” he said.
Economy Queen Reporter
Hana Choi Photo Goseong-gun
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Interview between Time.news Editor and Dr. Min-joon Kim, Dinosaur and Environmental Studies Expert
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Dr. Kim! It’s great to have you here to discuss the recent 2024 Gyeongnam Goseong Dinosaur World Expo and its broader implications for local communities. The expo concluded recently, attracting over 180,000 visitors. What do you think made this expo particularly successful compared to previous years?
Dr. Kim: Thank you for having me. The success of the Gyeongnam Goseong Dinosaur World Expo can largely be attributed to its innovative programming and engagement with visitors. Despite the challenging weather conditions, the introduction of features like a talking AI dinosaur and various cultural and culinary attractions captivated the audience. This differentiation from past expos created a memorable experience, encouraging more visitors to attend.
Time.news Editor: Absolutely! It’s impressive how they managed to achieve significant visitor numbers and sales even during frequent rain. The mayor mentioned that 140 local staff were hired, which indicates a positive economic impact. How do you see this benefit extending into the community long-term?
Dr. Kim: Hiring local staff is incredibly crucial not just for providing jobs but for fostering community involvement and ownership. Additionally, the indirect economic impacts, such as increased sales at local businesses and the distribution of Goseong Love Gift Certificates, inject vitality into the local economy. These effects can resonate long after the expo ends, encouraging local entrepreneurship and tourism.
Time.news Editor: It’s fascinating how events like these can catalyze economic revitalization. However, the survey feedback indicates areas for improvement, particularly regarding food quality and facilities. How should the organizers address this for future events?
Dr. Kim: Continuous feedback loops are essential for improvement. The organizers should focus on enhancing the visitor experience by upgrading facilities and examining food vendors to ensure higher quality options. Gathering detailed insights from attendees can guide these enhancements, making future expos even more appealing and accommodating.
Time.news Editor: Great point! Beyond the expo, Goseong-gun has been proactive in environmental initiatives, like creating urban forests to combat climate change. How crucial is this in today’s context?
Dr. Kim: Urban forests play a vital role in mitigating urban heat islands, improving air quality, and enhancing overall community health. In light of global warming, these initiatives are more important than ever. They not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also provide recreational spaces that enhance the quality of life for residents.
Time.news Editor: Speaking of urban forests, the recent project at Bugok Sleep Rest Area demonstrates this initiative well. What benefits do you foresee from such projects?
Dr. Kim: Projects like the one at Bugok not only contribute to cleansing the air by absorbing pollutants but also offer ecological benefits, such as biodiversity support and aesthetic enhancement to the area. They also serve as public education tools, promoting awareness about environmental issues among residents and visitors.
Time.news Editor: Indeed, the combination of an engaging dinosaur expo and sustainable environmental projects paints a hopeful picture for Goseong. What do you envision for the future of such events and initiatives in Goseong-gun?
Dr. Kim: If Goseong-gun continues to blend cultural festivals with environmental sustainability, it can become a model for other regions. The upcoming expos can evolve into holistic experiences that not only entertain but educate about environmental stewardship. As more community members get involved, the legacy of these events will foster a more engaged citizenry dedicated to both cultural heritage and ecological responsibility.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Dr. Kim, for sharing your insights. It’s been enlightening to discuss the intersections of heritage, community engagement, and environmental responsibility. I look forward to seeing how Goseong-gun continues to develop in these areas.
Dr. Kim: Thank you for having me! I’m excited to see the growth and transformation in Goseong-gun, and I hope to contribute to these conversations in the future.