Changwon City Revives 'Gohyang-ui Bom' Through Urban Regeneration Project

Opening of Haengbok-ui Chang Community Business Center

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] On the 27th, Changwon City in Gyeongnam held the opening ceremony of the 'Haengbok Uichang Community Business Center,' created through the Urban Vitality Promotion Area Development Project, in Uichang-gu.

Uichang-gu is home to the birthplace of Lee Wonsu's 'Spring of Hometown,' as well as Kim Jongyeong's birthplace, Changwon Hyanggyo Confucian School, and Changwon Eupseong Fortress. Although it formed an old downtown area early on, the lack of infrastructure led to demands for residential environment improvement.

Since establishing the master plan for the Haengbok Uichang Creation Project in 2017, the city has completed urban regeneration projects including the improvement of street environments on Kkotdaegwol-gil and Eupseong-gil, the creation of safe alleys, the construction of the Community Business Center, and the development of the Haengbok Uichang walking trail.

The opening ceremony was attended by Mayor Heo Seong-mu, Kim Seok-gyu, chairman of the Social Cooperative, provincial and city council members, and residents.

The event proceeded with a capacity-building project video, a signing ceremony for the consignment agreement between the cooperative and Changwon City for the Community Business Center, and a plaque unveiling ceremony.

The Haengbok Uichang Community Business Center, a resident-shared facility, consists of a village cafe, workshops, and a library.

It will operate from May 1, and a portion of the profits generated from revenue businesses such as the village cafe will be returned to the local community.

Following the opening ceremony, participants explored the 1.23 km section of the Haengbok Uichang walking trail from Sodap-dong in Uichang-gu to Yonggang-ri in Dong-eup.

The city transformed the abandoned railway idle land, left unused after the closure of the Gyeongjeon Line which once divided and isolated the downtown area, into a walking trail, exercise facilities, and children's playgrounds, providing much-needed resident exercise and rest spaces in Uichang-gu.

Inside the abandoned tunnel, landscape lighting and CCTV were installed to create a safe space where residents of Uichang-gu and Yonggang-ri in Dong-eup can travel and communicate securely.

Mayor Heo said, "Establishing the social cooperative to enable residents to operate the Community Business Center themselves will become a new milestone for resident autonomy and urban regeneration," adding, "Although these are difficult times, we will find new vitality through urban regeneration projects such as the Community Business Center and the Haengbok Uichang walking trail."

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