The opportunity to celebrate life’s special moments within the natural settings of national parks is expanding. The Ministry of Environment (Minister Kim Wan-seop) and the Korea National Park Service (Chairman Ju Dae-young) announced that from this year, the ‘National Park Forest Wedding’ initiative will be extended to all citizens, with enhanced support for wedding photo shoots at iconic national park venues.
Introduced in 2021 for young people and multicultural communities, the National Park Forest Wedding program has been held 133 times up to last year. This year, it’s open to anyone without restrictions, facilitating wedding photos amid the picturesque backdrops of national parks, as 44 forest photo spots have been newly designated.
This year’s revamp adds five more venues — including Naejangsan Autumn Leaves Ecology Park, Wolaksan Mansuro Nature Observation Path, and Deogyusan Deogyudae Camping Ground — making weddings possible at a total of 14 locations. Wedding photos can now be taken at 44 locations such as Bukhansan Fortress, Jirisan Nogodan, and Gyeongju Namsan Samreung Forest.
Transportation convenience is also enhanced. To overcome public transport inconveniences, free shuttle buses will operate from KTX stations and bus terminals to wedding venues, and vehicle entry will be permitted with prior reservation, guided by park staff.
Participation is free, with the Korea National Park Service supporting venue rental and space setup, as well as providing guidance on photo shoot locations and entry procedures. Applications can be submitted from March 5 through the Korea National Park Service website (knps.or.kr), and wedding dates will be finalized through consultation with the office.
Kim Tae-oh, Director of the Nature Conservation Bureau at the Ministry of Environment, expressed hope that “National Park Forest Weddings and Wedding Photo Spots will become new cultural practices that create special memories in harmony with nature,” adding, “We will continue to expand various programs to ensure all citizens can enjoy national parks.”
Through this program expansion, the Korea National Park Service aims to offer valuable experiences during life’s significant moments such as weddings, by connecting them with nature, while also promoting national park utilization and expanding the reach of ecological tourism.