[Edaily Reporter Oh Hee-na ] “Pongnang” (the Jeju dialect term for the Chinese hackberry tree), which has long served as a place of rest and a space for communication for residents throughout Jeju’s villages, is being transformed into a new community space where residents and tourists can gather and interact.

The Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the Jeju Tourism Organization announced on the 13th that they are accepting applications via email until the 21st for “2026 Pongnang Lounge Participating Villages.”
Pongnang has long served as a communal space in Jeju villages where residents gather to chat and rest. The Jeju Tourism Organization plans to create “Pongnang Lounges” as spaces where residents and visitors can naturally interact and experience the village’s new charm by connecting the village’s stories with local resources through Pongnang. The Provincial Government and the Corporation plan to equip the Pongnang Lounge with a concierge service (tailored assistance) to guide village visitors, as well as free Wi-Fi access, an unmanned bulletin board for hikers, and a space for local cultural events.
The application period for this project—which aims to promote the diverse village resources and attractions of Jeju’s eup and myeon areas and encourage tourists to visit and stay longer—ends at 6:00 p.m. on the 21st. The Provincial Government and the Corporation plan to select approximately two locations from among ri-level villages within Jeju’s eup and myeon areas.
To be eligible, a village must possess Pongnang resources within the village that are worthy of preservation and must fall into one of the following categories: △ a village association (ri-level) located in a town or township within Jeju Special Self-Governing Province; △ an agricultural and fishing village for experiential tourism; or △ a village enterprise located in a town or township designated by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. If an agricultural and fishing village for experiential tourism or a village enterprise applies, the consent of the village association representative is required. The villages ultimately selected will receive support for establishing a Pongnang Lounge, with funding capped at 20 million won per location. In addition, promotional and marketing support will be provided through the Visit Jeju and Karum Stay websites and social media channels.
Villages wishing to participate should prepare the application form and required supporting documents and submit them via email. Further details can be found in the announcements section of the Jeju Tourism Organization website.
An official from the Jeju Tourism Organization stated, “Each village in Jeju’s towns and townships has its own unique stories and attractive resources,” adding, “The Organization will actively support efforts to help tourists discover the new charms of Jeju’s villages and extend their stays by linking the Pongnang Lounges with nearby tourist attractions, commercial districts, and village-specific content and programs.”