Discover Why Yesan Village is South Korea’s Candidate for UN’s Best Tourism Villages 2026

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[Herald Economy (Andong) = Reporter Kim Byung-jin] Andong City in North Gyeongsang announced on the 12th that Yekki Village has been selected as South Korea’s official candidate for UN Tourism’s 6th Best Tourism Villages program.

The Best Tourism Villages initiative spotlights model villages worldwide that protect cultural heritage and natural resources while using tourism to drive sustainable local development.

Yekki Village secured its nomination after a domestic review by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization.

Nestled in Dosan-myeon, Andong, Yekki Village was formed in the 1970s by residents displaced when the Andong Dam was built.

Over the years it has reinvented itself as a creative tourism hub — think galleries, murals and artist workshops — and is now widely praised as a successful example of community revitalization.

Andong City says it will use the nomination as momentum to prepare for the UN Tourism final round of judging.

The organization will announce the final winners at an official event in the second half of 2026.

An Andong city official said the nomination “reaffirms that Andong’s traditional values are recognized globally as tourism assets,” adding, “We will do everything we can to promote Andong’s brand as a global tourism city through the final selection.”