Gyeongsangnam-do(Changnyeong-gun)
The hot springs have been called Bugok (the hanja characters 釜谷 refer to “cauldron” and “valley” respectively) because the land resembles the shape of a cauldron. When the spring was first discovered, people with skin ailments came in crowds because of the water’s healing properties. The sulfur and minerals in the water are effective for respiratory and skin ailments. Today, the hot springs attract 10,000~20,000 visitors a day, adding up to about 4 million people a year.
Discovered in 1973, the hot springs have a 6,000-ton daily water supply flowing from underground at a temperature as high as 78℃. Bugok was officially designated a national tourist resort in 1977. Twenty years later, it was promoted to a Special Tourist Zone. Composed of 24 hot springs, the complex has hotels, condominiums, a golf course, and a fountain that shoots up hot water. The resort Bugok Hawaii has a variety of amenities including outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a theater, and saunas, making it a popular destination for newlyweds and families.
The Bugok Hot Springs Festival, also called Onjeongje, is held from October to December every year to promote the area. The festival offers various activities such as a boiled egg eating contest (eggs boiled using water from the hot spring), foot baths, Pungmulnori (Korean folk music tradition) and other performances. Nearby attractions include Hwawangsan Mountain and the Upo Wetlands.
[Bugok Hot Springs Special Tourist Zone]
Areas covered: Geomun, Sachang and Bugok-ri, Bugok-myeon, Changnyeong-gun,Gyeongsangnam-do
Area size: 4,819,000㎡
