Dongrae Hot Springs in Busan expected to see revival after being designated as a ‘hot spring city’ by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety

With Dongrae Hot Springs District in Busan designated as a 'Hot Springs City' by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, attention is being paid to whether Dongrae Hot Springs, which was in decline, will provide an opportunity for revival.

Dongnae Hot Springs is designated as a hot spring city in 2023, making it the fourth in the country, following Suanbo Hot Springs in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, Onyang Hot Springs in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, and Bugok Hot Springs in Changnyeong, Gyeongnam Province.

Hot spring cities are designated by the Minister of Public Administration and Security in consideration of the excellence of hot spring resources, efforts to revitalize hot spring tourism, potential to foster the hot spring industry, and contribution to revitalizing the local economy.

Dongnae Hot Springs is a representative hot spring tourism resource in Busan, boasting a 1,400-year history dating back to the Three Kingdoms period.

It boasts the longest history in the country.

It has excellent water quality, containing high temperature hot spring water of up to 70.3 degrees and silica components.

During the Three Kingdoms period, Dongrae Hot Springs was a representative resort for kings and nobles.

It is said that during the Joseon Dynasty, there were separate bathhouses for men and women.

After the opening of the port, the Japanese built modern inns and bathhouses around the Dongnae Hot Springs, turning it into a modern tourist destination.

In the early 1970s, Dongrae Hot Springs was one of Korea's representative hot springs with high-quality, abundant hot spring water and well-maintained auxiliary facilities.

However, as it began to decline in the 2000s due to aging facilities, a way out was sought through public design development projects, hot spring festivals, and the promotion of hot spring special zone designation, but the reduction of the hot spring industry was inevitable.

It is known that Dongrae-gu, where dozens of public bathhouses once thrived, is currently operating 16 hot springs.

In particular, this designation is an assessment that it has the conditions to develop into a stay-type tourism base as it is adjacent to natural, historical, and cultural tourism resources such as Geumjeongsan National Park and Dongrae-eupseong Fortress.

With this designation, the city plans to develop Dongrae Hot Springs from an existing bath-centered hot spring tourism to an urban hot spring tourism city that combines healing, relaxation, experience, and tourism.

A 'hot spring healing center' will be built to provide professional underwater healing services, and a 'hot spring complex experience facility' will be built to create a hot spring-friendly city where citizens and tourists can enjoy hot springs in their daily lives.

Mayor Jeon Jae-soo said, “The designation as a hot spring city is a meaningful achievement that recognizes the value of Dongrae Hot Springs,” and added, “It will be a signal for the revival of Dongrae Hot Springs.”