Jinju City Launches Creation of 'Jinju Daechup Square' Commemorating Imjin War ... Cultural Heritage Administration Approval Granted

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Aerial photo of the Jinju Battle Plaza project site (Photo by Jinju City)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Jinju City in Gyeongnam announced on the 4th that it has received a permit for alteration of the appearance for the Jinju Battle Plaza creation project within the historic and cultural environment preservation area from the Cultural Heritage Administration.

Although the permit was once postponed by the Cultural Heritage Administration in December last year, it passed the review after an on-site investigation by the Cultural Heritage Committee in January this year.

The underground part (parking lot, etc.) will proceed as planned, and the above-ground part (creation of a historic park) is conditionally permitted, subject to a separate re-examination by the Cultural Heritage Committee of the Cultural Heritage Administration.

Jinjuseong Fortress attracted 2.2 million visitors in 2019, making it the most visited tourist site in Gyeongnam. However, the parking lot at the historic site of Jinjuseong Fortress only has 35 spaces in front of Gongbukmun Gate, raising the need for parking to improve visitor convenience and revitalize the old downtown area.

With this conditional permit, the Jinju Battle Plaza creation project has gained momentum for full-scale implementation 14 years after the feasibility study and basic plan were established in 2007.

Since 2009, Jinju City has invested 60 billion won, completing compensation negotiations and building demolition work in July 2017. Following that, surface surveys were conducted in August 2016, and detailed excavation surveys in August 2019, completing cultural heritage investigations over three years.

The Jinju Battle is one of the three major battles of the Imjin War, along with the Battle of Hansando and the Battle of Haengju. The Jinju Battle Plaza creation project is a 79 billion won project to be invested by 2022 on a 19,870㎡ site in front of Chokseokmun Gate in Bonseong-dong, Jinju City.

A Jinju City official expressed high expectations, saying, "Jinju Battle Plaza, along with Jinjuseong Fortress, is a cultural heritage and tourist resource representing Jinju's history and tradition. It will enhance Jinju's historical value and serve as a catalyst for revitalizing the old downtown area."

Meanwhile, based on the review results of the Cultural Heritage Committee of the Cultural Heritage Administration, Jinju City plans to proceed smoothly with detailed design and various administrative procedures through advisory committee consultations and thorough review by the Cultural Heritage Administration, aiming to start construction in the second half of this year and complete it in 2022.

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