The East-West Trail, which winds through Hongseong in South Chungcheong Province, is accelerating preparations for a full opening in 2027. Officials say the trail could grow beyond a simple trekking path to become a regional catalyst tied to rural tourism and local revitalization.
On May 3, Agriculture Minister Song Miryeong toured Section 12 of the East-West Trail around Gwangcheon-eup in Hongseong County and visited nearby rural experience-and-recreation villages to assess progress and operational readiness. The inspection focused on route safety and user convenience ahead of the full opening and aimed to prepare for a likely uptick in rural tourism during May’s Family Month.
When finished, the East-West Trail will stretch from the East Sea to the West Sea as a national long-distance route, and planners expect it to become a major walking-tourism corridor. Linked with neighboring farming and rural villages, the trail could encourage multi-day stays and deliver meaningful economic benefits to local communities.
During the visit, Minister Song walked about 2.4 km (1.5 miles) of Section 12 to check trail maintenance, safety features and directional signage. She then stopped at a rural experience-and-recreation village near the trailhead to review lodging·activity programs and the village’s readiness to welcome visitors.
May’s “Family Month” is expected to drive a surge in rural tourism. To meet that demand, the ministry expanded Rural Tourism Week to cover the entire month of May and boosted discount packages and event offerings—aiming to draw more family visitors and broaden the appeal of rural tourism.
Minister Song urged agencies to coordinate on safety and convenience upgrades and to finalize program development before the full opening, stressing that the East-West Trail should be used as a real catalyst to bring tangible energy and economic life to nearby farming and rural communities.
