YEONGDONG, North Chungcheong Province — In a bid to revitalize economies outside the capital region, KORAIL is launching themed train voyages aimed at boosting regional tourism. This initiative comes as younger generations continue to concentrate in Seoul, contributing to a nationwide decline in birthrates and dwindling regional populations, the state-run railway operator announced on Thursday.
One of the primary focus areas is Yeongdong County, a mountainous region in North Chungcheong Province with a population of approximately 43,000. KORAIL, in collaboration with a local tourism agency, is promoting the area’s unique offerings of wine and gugak (traditional Korean music) through a special train journey designed to guide tourists to local attractions.
The Chungbuk Yeongdong Gugak & Wine Train features seven cars, including a wine bar and performance stages in all but one car, which is used for storage. The train departs from Seoul Station, making its way to Yeongdong Station. Each car accommodates 46 passengers seated at tables equipped with two bottles of local wine, wine glasses, and sandwiches.
Passengers embark on a three-hour journey filled with entertainment. While enjoying their meals and wine, emcees host lively parties in each car. Two gugak singers, dressed in traditional hanbok, perform for about two hours on the train’s stage.
“All 246 seats on this train have been sold out,” stated Won Jong-hyeok from Happy Train, the local tourism agency offering the gugak wine train tour in partnership with KORAIL. “The Yeongdong County Office designed the train, and the wines come from the county, which boasts 34 local wineries. The train service began in 2018, paused during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21, and resumed in May of last year.”
Upon arriving in Yeongdong, guests are transferred by bus to a local winery for lunch. Winemaker Kim Deok-hyeon from Country Winery noted that wineries comprise one-fifth of the county’s farms, producing about 45,000 bottles of red wine annually.
The tour also includes a visit to the Rainbow Healing Center, a relaxation facility with a budget of 19.7 billion won (approximately $15 million), featuring a foot spa, illite heat sauna, and various areas designed for introspection.
Additionally, tourists can explore the Wine Tunnel, a 600-meter-long museum showcasing the history of wine and the different varieties produced by Yeongdong wineries. Here, visitors can sample wines and even try wine-flavored ice cream.
“We produce more grapes, shine muscats, and other fruits than rice, making us a representative wine region that accounts for 8 percent of the nation’s total wine production,” said Kang Seong-kyu, vice governor of Yeongdong.
To combat the challenges of depopulation, KORAIL signed partnerships on July 16 with four ministries, three state-run companies, and 23 local governments. This initiative includes not only the gugak wine train but also sightseeing trains along the south, west, and east coasts, as well as routes through the Baekdu-Daegan mountain range and visits to the country’s oldest marketplaces. Additional themed trains focusing on education and multi-day excursions are also sponsored by local regions.
KORAIL projects that these railway tourism packages will attract approximately 100,000 passengers this year, marking a 189 percent increase from the previous year and generating an estimated 26.8 billion won for regional economies.
“We’ve identified 89 regions facing significant depopulation issues and selected 40 for economic development in partnership with local tourism agencies and authorities,” a KORAIL official commented. “Among our special tourism package trains, the gugak wine train has seen the highest sales.”
You Might Be Interested In:
- 3 Top Ways to Store Wine
- How Sparkling Grape Juice is Made?
- How to Use a SodaStream to Make Sparkling Wine
