Yeongyang International Dark Sky Park

A 3,900,000 square meter area, including parts of the Suha Valley and the Wangpicheon River basin in the Subi-myeon area of Yeongyang-gun, which also encompasses a portion of the Firefly Ecological Park, was designated as the first International Dark Sky Park (IDS Park) in Asia by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) on October 31, 2015.
The site achieved an excellent sky brightness measurement of 21.37 mag/arcsec² on average (a brightness unit per specific area, ranging from 21.74 to 21.00), indicating exceptional night sky transparency. This makes it a location where various celestial phenomena, such as the Milky Way and meteor showers, are visible with the naked eye. It has been awarded the "Silver" rating, which is the brightest achievable rating for a terrestrial location. This rating is based on the IDA (International Dark-Sky Association) standards for measuring night sky quality.
The designation of the Night Sky Protection Park signifies the efforts of Yeongyang County to protect ecosystems from artificial light and preserve the precious night sky. This recognition from the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has made Yeongyang County the first place in Asia to be recognized as an internationally designated dark sky area, a source of great pride for our country.
Located in the heart of the park, the Natural Ecosystem Management Center offers a variety of programs, including observatory visits and stargazing, hands-on activities, "starlight walks," and "starlight concerts." Local residents and tourists can come together to enjoy music outdoors while marveling at the stars. Additionally, the "firefly special zone" provides a beautiful nighttime scene where fireflies and the stars in the night sky blend together.

Details

Admission fee

Free

Restroom

Yes