Busan Gijang to Become a World-Class City of 'Forest and Healing'

Gijang-gun Launches Full-Scale Creation of Park Fine Dust Blocking Forest and Healing Forest

Busan Gijang County Office.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The "Forest and Healing City" project in Gijang is set to be launched in earnest.

Gijang-gun, Busan, is taking full-scale steps to create a "fine dust blocking forest" that helps reduce fine dust and purify the air, as well as a "healing forest" themed on relaxation.

The fine dust blocking forest will be established in the Jeonggwan New Town and Myeongrye Industrial Complex areas with 3 billion KRW secured from the Korea Forest Service's national fund project selected in 2021.

Considering the characteristics of the area where residential and industrial zones coexist, about 30,000 evergreen broadleaf trees such as camphor trees, Chinese tallow trees, and thorn trees that help absorb and capture fine dust for air purification, as well as visually appealing cornelian cherry trees, will be planted.

Once the fine dust blocking forest is created, it is expected to play a role in suppressing fine dust inflow into residential areas.

Gijang-gun will also develop urban parks into "healing forests." Using 5 billion KRW out of the 15 billion KRW facility improvement fund received from Busan Urban Corporation, native fruit tree forests including wild pear trees, cornelian cherry trees, and wild grapevines will be established in Samsung Forest, Hudong Forest, and Tteokgok Forest parks, which are preservation areas in Ilgwang New Town, creating spaces for health and educational experiences.

Additionally, specialized Gijang-style healing spaces such as a rose theme park and azalea hill will be created in Ilgwang New Town.

In the central area of Ilgwang New Town around Samsung Stream, 20,000 additional rose plants will be planted in connection with the existing 12,000-plant rose garden to create a rose theme park linked to the riverside walking trail.

Two retention ponds will be developed into healing spaces where culture and nature coexist in the city, featuring natural grass outdoor performance halls, walking trails, and rose gardens with over 50 varieties.

A 500-meter green area at the entrance of Ilgwang New Town will be developed into the Gijang County Flower Azalea Hill, where azalea flowers, the county's flower, will bloom.

Oh Gyu-seok, the mayor of Gijang-gun, said, "With the strength of Gijang-gun, which proudly ranked first in the 'Community Well-being Index (CWI)' survey among 229 local governments nationwide for livability, we will focus administrative power on creating the healthiest, most beautiful, and livable city in the world."

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