S. Korea: Nudist forest to open in Jangheung County

[Danee]

Korea’s first nudist forest is scheduled to open in Jangheung County, South Jeolla Province in late August.
 
 The county said Friday that it is working on a therapeutic park, surrounded by chamaecyparis obtusa trees, and will test-run the nudist forest, named “Vivid Ecotopia” in the near future.
 
 “We will soon complete construction of the facilities and people can enjoy nature and release stress in the nude,” Park Kwang-ho, an official of the country office told The Korea Times.
 
 The official said although the park operator will provide visitors with thin gowns, ultimately all will be encouraged to undress.
 
 “We have already received legal advice that there will be no problems with the park as long as it is built in a shielded area. The main purpose of the park is to treat people suffering from skin diseases such as atopicallergy and help them meditate,” he added.
 
 Jeju Island sought to build a nudist beach last year, but failed to carry through the plan due to strong resistance from various interest groups.
 
 The county has invested 4.5 billion won ($3.8 million) for the establishment of the park and six huts will accommodate approximately 50 people. The administration will not charge visitors this year and decide on the admission fee after the test period.

From: http://www.nudistday.com/article/a-nudist-forest.html/comment-page-1#comment-13796

and, http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/07/117_70507.html

[Danee]

Nudist Forest a Sham?
July 23 of this year we had reported that a “nudist forest” named Vivi Ecotopia (Not Vivid as widely reported) was set to open in August in Jangheung, South Korea. That date has come and gone and social nudity still does not seem to be happening there.
According to the Korean press and bloggers, there’s yet to be a naked patron seen in the park since it opened. Apparently, a topless model was used as a gimmick to attract journalists to the site’s opening. Originally, the town’s mayor wanted it to be a clothing optional recreational area, but was forced to abandon the plans due to public protests by religious groups. Some local politicians even go as far as blaming the media for hyping this as a nudist park, when in fact it is a spa. At this point it certainly seems as if the media was used rather than the other way around.
We had expressed doubt about such a venue ever seeing the light of day in a supposedly ultra-conservative society such as South Korea’s. We say “supposedly” because there’s a sex park on Cheju island, replete with sculptures of couples in every imaginable sexual position. We still hope nudism takes root in that country, but for now it’s still conservatives one, nudists zero!


From: http://www.nudistday.com/article/nudist-forest-a-sham.html