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The Gangwon Province Citizens’ Movement for Mt. Kumgang Tourism Development Headquarters holds a press conference at the Seoul Press Center to call for the resumption of tourism to Mt. Kumgang on Nov. 11

A first attempt at private tourism to Mt. Kumgang since the resort’s tourism project was halted 11 years ago is drawing attention to the plan’s chances of success.

The Gangwon Province Citizens’ Movement for Mt. Kumgang Tourism Development Headquarters, a collection of around 10 Gangwon-area private and social groups including the Gangwon Democracy Foundation and Gangwon Educational Community Forum, held a press conference at the Press Center in Seoul’s Jung (Central) District on the morning of Nov. 11 to call for the swift resumption of tourism at Mt. Kumgang in North Korea.

“Tourism at Mt. Kumgang is a matter not only of peace and stability for Gangwon Province as a region, but also of the survival of its residents,” said Choi Yoon, the headquarters’ standing representative. “It requires forward-thinking consideration from the international community, including authorities for inter-Korean relations and the UN.” According to one analysis, the suspension of tourism at Mt. Kumgang has caused 380 billion won (US$327.33 million) in damages in Goseong County alone with the closure of some 400 related businesses, while Hyundai Asan and other related companies have suffered 1.57 trillion won (US$1.35 billion) in losses.

As a first step to get the ball rolling toward a resumption of tourism at the resort, the headquarters plans to pursue individual tourist visits. The kind of large-scale group tourism led by Hyundai Asan could be in violation of UN sanctions -- but individual tourist visits are not subject to sanctions. Indeed, over 1.2 million tourists from China and other countries each year have enjoyed tourism in North Korea on an individual basis. To this end, a campaign to recruit individual tourists to visit Mt. Kumgang was launched on Oct. 31 through the website www.peaceagain.net. The original target was 300 people; the total has already passed 600.

Earlier this month, the South Korean Ministry of Unification (MOU) granted approval for a North Korean resident contact application by Choi and two other headquarters representatives. The headquarters plans to meet with the North Korean side by the end of the month to discuss the scale and schedule for the individual tourists visiting Mt. Kumgang. If North Korea agrees to the visit, an official invitation ensuring physical safety is to be issued. Upon subsequent MOU approval the first individual tourist visits to Mt. Kumgang in history would take place.

“The attention of the public is necessary to heal the suffering of the world’s last remaining Cold War,” said Gangwon Governor Choi Moon-soon, who attended the press conference that day.

“If necessary, we will put together a Gangwon Province delegation including the governor to visit Mt. Kumgang,” he said.

By Park Soo-hyuk, Gangwon correspondent

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