New Ventures in North Korea and with the Mt. Kumgang Resort Project
Since the late 1990s, South Koreans have been able to travel to Mt. Kumgang in North Korea. Hyundai Asan a division of the former Hyundai Group has been the sole provider of the venture. Initially the only means of travel was via ship. Several years ago a highway was built, however, travel was only permitted by tour bus.
According to Korea Times, South Koreans will soon be able to travel by car to a resort town in Mt. Kumgang. They will also be able to camp out and cook on the beach.
Kim Yoon-kyu, vice-chairman of Hyundai Asan, announced the plan during a media briefing held on the mountain, marking the one millionth South Korean visitor to Mt. Kumgang.
The group has decided to develop a resort town on the 1-kilometer-long beach from Haegumgang Hotel to the Kosonghang raw fish restaurant at port Kosong. Shops, restaurants and lodgings will be established.
``Everybody will be able to invest in the facilities with $100,000-200,000. We expect investment from people whose hometowns are in the North,Â’Â’ Kim said.
He added that people who hesitated to invest in North Korea due to the communist country a’s nuclear weapons programs now have some interest in the resort project.
The operator also said it agreed with the North to allow visitors to camp out on Mt. Kumgang beach as early as next month. The beach has been open during summer since 2003, but tourists have been banned from entering the beach at night or pitching their own tents.
Interestingly, the South and North sides also agreed to permit visitors to cook food.
The reduced travel cost for campers is also expected to attract young people. Currently, 70 percent of visitors are in their 40s or older.
There are currently six places to stay in Mt. Kumgang including hotels, pensions and a camping area for students., In Julu, the Kumgang family beach hotel with 102 rooms near Kosong port.
A large golf course is also under construction for the opening in 2006.
Finally, one change from past policy is that South Korean travelers will be able visit the mountain in their own cars. Last year, Hyundai Asan and its North Korean counterpart agreed to make travel more convenient for South Koreans by allowing them to drive themselves to the North.
According to Korea Times, South Koreans will soon be able to travel by car to a resort town in Mt. Kumgang. They will also be able to camp out and cook on the beach.
Kim Yoon-kyu, vice-chairman of Hyundai Asan, announced the plan during a media briefing held on the mountain, marking the one millionth South Korean visitor to Mt. Kumgang.
The group has decided to develop a resort town on the 1-kilometer-long beach from Haegumgang Hotel to the Kosonghang raw fish restaurant at port Kosong. Shops, restaurants and lodgings will be established.
``Everybody will be able to invest in the facilities with $100,000-200,000. We expect investment from people whose hometowns are in the North,Â’Â’ Kim said.
He added that people who hesitated to invest in North Korea due to the communist country a’s nuclear weapons programs now have some interest in the resort project.
The operator also said it agreed with the North to allow visitors to camp out on Mt. Kumgang beach as early as next month. The beach has been open during summer since 2003, but tourists have been banned from entering the beach at night or pitching their own tents.
Interestingly, the South and North sides also agreed to permit visitors to cook food.
The reduced travel cost for campers is also expected to attract young people. Currently, 70 percent of visitors are in their 40s or older.
There are currently six places to stay in Mt. Kumgang including hotels, pensions and a camping area for students., In Julu, the Kumgang family beach hotel with 102 rooms near Kosong port.
A large golf course is also under construction for the opening in 2006.
Finally, one change from past policy is that South Korean travelers will be able visit the mountain in their own cars. Last year, Hyundai Asan and its North Korean counterpart agreed to make travel more convenient for South Koreans by allowing them to drive themselves to the North.
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