• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2003

A purpose of this study was to compare visitors' and managers' perception to park use and management attributes f3r developing the effective park management strategies. The questionnaire surveys with 401 samples in visitor and 67 samples in manager group were employed at three different parks(Chiaksan National Park, Odaesan National Park, and Seolaksan National Park) in Kwangwon area, Korea. As the results from comparing perception, some differences of perception about environment damage, damage types, and causes of damage exist between visitor and manager group. In addition, significant perception differences in some use and management attributes, such as trash problem, natural and cultural resource conditions, touting, sanitation and information facility conditions, were found between both groups.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.168-175
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• 2007

For maximum utility of trails, there is a need for better knowledge of characteristics of trail use and its users. The purpose of this study is to find out users' attitudes toward trail structures in Eorimok exploring route in Hallasan National Park managerial purposes. A questionnaire survey was conducted to 138 people on the way back home from their visit to the site from July to August, 2007. The geological conditions of 7 types of pedestrian trail structures were rated relatively high both in quantity and quality. The responses were noticeably positive about the natural materials used in wood deck and PP rope railings from the point of three aspects: harmony with nature, visitor convenience and resources conservation. It seems necessary to replace steel structures with native materials because such unnatural materials used in a natural setting are subject to visitor's resistance.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2006

This study was conducted on the visitors regarding their usage and evaluation state of the interpretive media which is utilized as a self-guide environment interpretation for the purpose of accumulating basic data for the park management. A questionnaire survey was chosen and the 275 valid samples among them were analyzed. The socioeconomic and behavioral characteristics of the visitors turned out to be similar with the results from another visitor survey in the same site. Among those who used the interpretive media, the largest proportion(77%) used the information board resources of the park; the usage rate of interpretive labels of woody plants, interpretive signs of cultural assets, and LED signs were shown to be relatively high. The usage of park brochures, park web sites, visitor center exhibits, and bulletin boards were less than 40% each. Visitors were asked to evaluate the importance and performance of the nine interpretive medias using a Likert Scale whose value ranges from one to five. The result recorded averaged above 4, which proved that the respondents were perceiving the importance of all forms of interpretive media greatly. The performance of interpretive media was also evaluated as affirmative, except the visitor center exhibits.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2008

This study was carried out with the aim to provide basic data for efficient park management by analyzing satisfaction factors and estimated regression model through questionnaire survey method for the visitors to Bukhansan National Park in Korea. As a result of analysis, it was found that visitors are satisfied with such variables as 'illegal camping', 'cooking act' and 'padded bills' but extremely unsatisfied with 'waste problem', 'congestion', 'damage of visiting trails' and 'lack of cultural facilities'. In the result of satisfaction factors, it was revealed that 'facility management factor' was found to have the greatest effect on satisfaction degree. In the estimated model by Multiple Regression Analysis, 'damage of natural resources' and 'damage of cultural and historic resources', and 'lack of traffic facilities' were found to affect visitors' satisfaction.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.89-104
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• 2021

This study investigated the public opinion on the use and conservation management of national park, to manage the growing demand of national park visit and to support the policy direction of national park. So far, various surveys and big data analysis on the use and perception of national park have been conducted, but there have been limitations such as lack of survey questions on issues in park management and use. In addition, the object of the previous studies were limited to the national park visitors; therefore, this study expanded the object of survey from national park visitors to ordinary citizens. Unlike previous studies conducted only on national park visitors, ordinary citizens relatively prefered bottom areas rather than high-altitude ones. A policy to limit the visit to high-ridge area of mountain is being currently driven; however, the survey results of ordinary citizens suggested to maintain current policies or to increase visitor reservations system within narrow limits. On the other hand, the proportion of citizens who have used the visitor-reservation system was very small. We discuss the difference between national park visitors and ordinary citizens and the policy conditions according to changes in park management principles and public attitudes toward national parks.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.181-192
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• 2021

This study surveyed visitors' perceptions of Mudeungsan National Park's Seoseokdae Trail Section (STS) on the visitor reservation system (VRS). Data were collected from 248 visitors to STS selected through convenient sampling in May 2019. The majority (86.9%) of the respondents rated their overall experience in STS as either "no problem at all" or "little problem". Moreover, 43.0% of the respondents were aware of the VRS. The most popular information source for VRS was the Internet (49.7%), followed by other people (18.4%) and broadcasting media, e.g., TV (17.7%). While 69.9% of the respondents thought that implementation of VRS would be effective in improving managerial conditions of the STS, respondents perceived that "cumbersome reservation procedures" (79.3%) of the VRS operation was the most important problem, followed by "unfairness associated with Internet familiarity gap" (78.7%) and "deprivation of the opportunities to visit freely" (76.3%). The support for VRS implementation was higher among higher-aged, married, higher-educated, more frequent STS visitors, Gwangju residents, and solo visitors than the other groups. The "knowledge level about VRS" and "the awareness level about potential problems associated with VRS operation" negatively influenced the support for the implementation of VRS, while "the perceived managerial effectiveness of VRS" positively influenced it.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.642-649
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• 2013

This study evaluated the efficacy of information and self-interpretive media that provide information on park environment using self-administered visitor survey to the Dadohaehaesang National Park, Korea. Excluding missing and unreliable responses, 205 valid responses were used for the analysis. Socioeconomic status and visiting behavior of the visitors to the Dadohaehaesang National Park were similar to those to other Korean national parks. Results showed that, of the self-interpretive media, 'Information board of park use and resources' were most frequently used (87.7%), followed by 'Interpretive label of woody plant,' and 'Bulletin boards for information and enlightenment.' 'Guided interpretation' was used less than 40% of the visitors. Visitors also highly rated the importance of the media (higher than 4.0 on average out of 5 point Liker scale question). The average performance rate was 3.82, suggesting that visitors were satisfied on the self-interpretive media. Visitors responded that 'Information board of park use and resources' and 'Bulletin boards for information and enlightenment' were not useful and, therefore, should be amended and managed to improve the self-interpretability of the media.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.473-481
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• 2006

Readability, an indicator measuring the easiness of reading letters, has been known an important element that determines the communicative effectiveness of the self-guided interpretive signs. However, there are few studies to find out how the readability of the signs influence visitor's attraction and reading behavior of interpretive signs. This study examined the relationship between readability of interpretive signs and attraction, preferences, and intent to recommend reading signs to others. Data were collected from August to November of 2003 at a self-guided trail of Naejangsan National Park, Korea. 350 out of 375 responses from subjects who participated in the questionnaire survey were usable. Results showed that readability of the signs is related with the attraction, preferences, and intention of recommending reading signs to others. The higher the readability of the signs were, the higher the attraction, preferences, and intention of recommending reading signs were. Attraction and preferences were also positively related with intention of recommending reading signs. Preferences better explained intention of recommending reading signs than readability and attraction. These findings suggest that enhancing readability of the signs may lead to higher participation in reading them.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.46-57
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• 2018

To increase knowledge regarding the ecotourism market in Korea, this study conducted a market segmentation based on tourists' motivations and attitudes. An onsite survey of visitors to Daebu Haesol 1 gil, Gyeonggi Province, was conducted from late November 2016 to early January 2017. An exploratory factor analysis and K-means cluster analysis were employed to identify market segments by using data collected from 434 respondents. The results showed three distinct segments labelled 'Nature Seeking Responsible Tourists', 'Passive Nature Seeking Tourists' and 'Nature/Cohesion Seeking Responsible Tourists.' All three segments had different levels of 'escape', 'health' and 'cohesion' motivations but commonly they all had a relatively high level of 'nature' motivation. As they also differed from each other in terms of sociodemographic and travel related characteristics as well as satisfaction level, it was concluded that motivation and attitudes of responsibility can be used for ecotourism market segmentation. A significant implication is that this research confirmed that the indicators on tourists' attitude of responsibility toward local communities are useful in segmenting visitors to ecotourism sites, which have been rarely studied in previous ecotourism market studies.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.585-593
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• 2009

This study is a survey on the general perceptions of the residents and visitors regarding the Nature Restoration Period in Chilsun Valley in Jirisan National park, and it was designed to establish systematic park management plan for the Special Protected Areas in Korean National Parks. This survey was conducted on the residents of five towns including Chuseong-ri, Gwangjum-dong, Uijung-ri, Uitan-ri and Uipyeong-ri, as well as visitors to Chilsun Valley by using convenience sampling. The result showed that those individuals or groups who responded to the survey were all positive about preservatory effect of Nature Restoration Period in the valley; however they also showed major perceptional differences as to the ways in which the nature restoration period managed. They also disagreed among themselves on the assessment of the extent of damage that could be generated due to the restoration, the appropriateness of the Nature Restoration Period as a management policy and maintenance of the policy in the future. The appropriateness as a policy and the extent of damage due to the Nature Restoration Period particularly showed some serious perceptional differences among five resident groups based on the location of their towns. To minimize current conflict and achieve the goal of Nature Restoration Period, the park management authorities need to communicate more actively with the stakeholders of the local community and NGOs, and secure their support and cooperation by accommodating their ideas and opinions to build a strategic partnership.