Naju-si Accelerates Development Project of Wondongsim Eupseong Area

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Han-hyuk] Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Kang In-gyu) is accelerating various development projects to revitalize the old town fortress area.

According to the city on the 4th, based on a master plan that aligns with the historical identity of the millennium-old Moksa town center, it plans to complete 28 projects worth 250 billion KRW by 2023.

The "Fortress Area Master Plan" is an urban development strategy aimed at promoting various development and public projects in the fortress area from an integrated perspective that emphasizes balance and harmony among projects that could otherwise proceed in different directions.

To prepare detailed implementation plans for the master plan, the city started related research in September last year, held a final results briefing this month, and recently conducted an on-site inspection tour of major fortress area projects.

The fortress area development pursues the vision of "Naju Moksa Town, a museum city preserving memories," promoting 28 medium- to long-term projects worth 250 billion KRW in history, culture, ecology, and facilities to activate downtown walking tourism as a core direction.

It also aims to allow residents to enjoy various historical, cultural, and ecological resources with good accessibility within their daily living area and to promote walking tourism.

Rather than a point-based tourism development method, it connects existing resources along routes, expecting socio-cultural and economic benefits from increased tourist stay times.

Major projects include ▲creation of a youth start-up street in the old downtown ▲development of a cultural city ▲restoration of Naju Mok Hyangcheong (local government office) ▲undergrounding of power distribution lines ▲urban regeneration of Naju Fortress and Jukrim-dong ▲creation of Namsan Citizens' Forest ▲restoration of Najucheon ecological stream ▲development of infrastructure for traditional Hanok village and Geumseongsan National Forest Healing Center ▲expansion of local food direct sales stores, led by 13 city departments including the History Tourism Division, Culture and Arts Division, and Urban Planning Division.

So far, two projects have been completed: the "Jungang-ro (section from Sindonga Pharmacy to Jungang-ro Intersection) paving construction" and the "opening of the 2nd local food direct sales store, Geumnam branch."

Within this year, the city plans to complete the "Naju Fortress Urban Regeneration New Deal Project," "Seoseong Wall Special Management Zone Creation," "Seoseongmun to Najucheon Urban Planning Road Construction," and "Fortress Area Traditional Hanok Village Landscape Maintenance Project."

Recently, under the chairmanship of Vice Mayor Park Bong-soon, the city held project-specific briefing sessions and an on-site tour to check the progress of the fortress area master plan.

About 20 participants, including project department officials, fortress area urban regeneration center staff, and residents, took part in the on-site tour, inspecting and discussing eight projects such as the creation of the Jeolla-do Millennium Historical and Cultural Garden, Seoseong Wall Special Management Zone, restoration of Naju Mok Hyangcheong, and restoration of Najucheon ecological stream.

Vice Mayor Park said, "Through the fortress area master plan, a foundation has been established to systematically develop Naju Fortress's historical, cultural, and ecological resources as one," adding, "We will do our best to promote walking tourism so that residents can feel the changed environment in their daily lives and the local economy can be revitalized."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.