Yeongju officials propose railway tourism for Punggi Ginseng Festival

Members of the Yeongju City Council have proposed new railway initiatives to boost tourism and the local economy during the upcoming Punggi Ginseng Festival, scheduled for October 3 to 11. During a meeting with Korail Gyeongbuk headquarters officials, council members suggested implementing temporary KTX-Eum stops at Punggi Station during the festival period and developing a specialized tourism product tentatively named the ‘Punggi Ginseng Train’.

The proposed ‘Punggi Ginseng Train’ aims to create a stay-over tourism model, connecting festival visitors with local landmarks such as Sobaeksan Mountain, Buseoksa Temple, and traditional markets. This strategy is intended to transform Punggi Station from a simple transit stop into a gateway for regional tourism, helping to mitigate the challenges of local population decline.

Korail announced that KTX-Eum services on the Jungang Line will increase by two round trips starting September 1. While Korail noted that the short timeframe might make launching a new tourism product difficult for this year's festival, they agreed to review the possibility of temporary stops at Punggi Station and will assist in promoting the festival via electronic displays at major railway stations nationwide.