Following Suanbo, Onyang and Bugok,

Dongnae earns designation on its own merits

Heosimcheong spa in Dongnae [Korea Tourism Organization]
Heosimcheong spa in Dongnae [Korea Tourism Organization]

Busan said Friday that the Ministry of Interior and Safety had designated the Dongnae hot spring district in Dongnae-gu as the country's fourth official "hot spring city" the previous day.

The designation is the second round of such appointments since 2023, when three areas — Suanbo in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province; Onyang in Asan, South Chungcheong Province; and Bugok in Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province — were named together. This time, Dongnae was designated on its own.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety conducted on-site inspections and expert reviews based on a submitted hot spring city plan, then made its final decision after comprehensively evaluating Dongnae's hot spring resources, urban accessibility, development potential and differentiated growth strategy.

Under the Hot Springs Act, the minister of interior and safety designates hot spring cities by weighing the quality of hot spring resources, efforts to promote hot spring tourism, the potential for developing the hot spring industry and contributions to revitalizing the local economy.

The Dongnae hot spring district is an urban hot spring tourism destination with a 1,400-year history dating to the Three Kingdoms period. Its waters, which reach temperatures of up to 70.3 degrees Celsius and contain silica, are considered to be of high quality.

Located in the city center with easy access via Busan Metro lines 1, 3 and 4 and the Donghae Nambu Line, the district draws about 2 million visitors a year, supported by well-developed hot spring facilities and related infrastructure.

Its proximity to Geumjeongsan National Park and Dongnaeeupseong Fortress — natural, historical and cultural attractions — also positions it as a potential hub for extended-stay tourism that links the hot springs with surrounding sites.

Busan plans to use the designation as a springboard to transform Dongnae from a traditional bathing-focused destination into an urban hot spring tourism city that combines wellness, relaxation, hands-on experiences and sightseeing.

To that end, the city will build a hot spring wellness center offering professional hydrotherapy services and develop a hot spring complex experience facility where residents and tourists can enjoy the springs as part of daily life. The city also plans to develop signature products under the "Dongnae Oncheonjang" brand and hold a Dongnae hot spring festival to expand tourism offerings and inject new energy into the local economy.

"Dongnae's designation as the country's fourth hot spring city — on its own, following Suanbo, Onyang and Bugok in 2023 — is a meaningful achievement that recognizes the value of Dongnae's hot springs," Mayor Jeon Jae-soo said. "We will steadily expand wellness, relaxation and tourism content that plays to Dongnae's strengths, and ensure that the revitalization of hot spring tourism translates into new vitality for the local economy."


kaf2002@heraldcorp.com