Why Hong Gil-dong Theme Park is the Must-Visit Destination in 2026: Exciting Upgrades and Family Fun

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[iNews24 Reporter Kim Sang-jin] On April 1, Jangseong County in South Jeolla Province announced that Hong Gil-dong Theme Park has been selected in a public competition for the second year in a row—giving the park a real chance for a makeover.

The county says it recently won the Jeollanam-do Aging Tourist Sites Revitalization grant, securing 1 billion KRW (about $660,000). Officials plan to use the funds to remodel the park’s exhibition halls, adding up-to-date features such as a media wall and interactive touch panels.

The park will also roll out hands-on outdoor programming—think escape rooms, treasure hunts, and other interactive experiences that take advantage of its wide open spaces.

Last year the county won the same grant and secured 1.2 billion KRW (about $792,000). Officials are removing the central plaza fountain to create a splash area slated to open this summer, and designers have leaned into the park’s identity by incorporating a traditional fortress-wall motif.

Hong Gil-dong Theme Park centers on Hong Gil-dong—the protagonist of Heo Gyun’s novel Tale of Hong Gil-dong and a figure rooted in history. With a restored birthplace, a mountain-village experience area, and a traditional archery range, it’s an ideal spot for family stays.

Sim Woo-jeong, deputy county mayor of Jangseong, said the back-to-back selections for the Jeonnam revitalization project have helped the county rediscover the park’s value as a tourism asset.