Eunpyeong-gu Wins Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Green City Award

Awarded Grand Prize in Green City Category for Urban Sustainability and Living Infrastructure Evaluation

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) has won the Grand Prize in the Green City category in the Urban Sustainability and Living Infrastructure Evaluation hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The Urban Sustainability and Living Infrastructure Evaluation is conducted by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport targeting basic local governments nationwide in accordance with the "National Land Planning and Utilization Act," and Eunpyeong-gu earned the honor of the grand prize in the Green City category.

Eunpyeong-gu is rich in forests, covering about 55% of its administrative area. Recognizing the importance of forest welfare early on, it presented the vision (slogan) "Bukhansan Great Forest" during both the 6th and 7th elected terms as a proactive policy response.

To implement this policy, the basic directions were selected as "creating forest welfare spaces without marginalized groups, establishing the Eunpyeong Dulle-gil linked with historical and cultural contents, connecting fragmented green spaces, creating distinctive parks, restoring damaged ecosystems, and eco-friendly riverside landscaping." The district has promoted projects such as creating Seoul’s first cypress healing forest, establishing five courses of the Eunpyeong Dulle-gil (24 km), constructing two green corridors to connect fragmented green spaces, creating the Bongsan barrier-free forest trail, developing the healing forest trail in Mulpae Park, establishing a forest experience center for young children, creating ecological playgrounds, and the Eunpyeong Library Thinking Forest Trail project. Additionally, the Urban Farming School and Hyangnim Urban Agriculture Experience Center are also in operation.

Furthermore, Eunpyeong-gu has achieved many successes by applying for various public contests to secure national and Seoul city budgets to overcome unfavorable financial conditions.

In particular, through communication with residents mediated by a dedicated cooperation department, the district has steadily promoted demand-oriented park development.

Going forward, Eunpyeong-gu plans to continuously secure budgets and compensate for park land to create park facilities that respond proactively to changing times and residents’ needs. It is also considering entrusting management to the private sector to enable facility management led by residents and job creation.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, stated, “In the current situation where the demand for open spaces and the need for appropriate facilities for forest welfare continue to increase due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, I am not only pleased that our district’s efforts have been recognized but also grateful to the residents who cooperated for demand-centered park development through governance. I also commend the hard work of related officials. Eunpyeong-gu’s bidirectional governance policy toward forest welfare will continue to produce results.”

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