Seoul City Begins Active Acquisition of Private Lands in 'Urban Natural Park Zones' to Protect Hiking Trails and Rest Areas

Priority Purchase of 6.3㎢ of Hiking Trails and Dulle-gil by 2030
128,000㎡ of Private Land in 23 Park Zones to Be Acquired This Year with 61.7 Billion Won Investment

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City announced on the 6th that it will begin full-scale acquisition of private land within the designated ‘Urban Natural Park Zones’ starting this year to prevent the reduction of park areas due to the expiration system (sunset clause) of urban parks. The goal is to prioritize the purchase of spaces within urban parks frequently used by citizens, such as hiking trails, walking paths, and rest areas, and return them to the public.

‘Urban Natural Park Zones’ are designated use zones within some long-term unexecuted urban parks that are at risk of disappearing due to the implementation of the long-term unexecuted urban park expiration system, in order to maintain park functions. Seoul City newly designated 68 locations totaling 69.2㎢ through a change in the urban management plan in June 2020.

Although Seoul City has no legal obligation to purchase land within the ‘Urban Natural Park Zones,’ requests for land acquisition from landowners have continued, and with the increased demand and public value of parks due to COVID-19, the city established a basic plan for private land acquisition in August last year. Accordingly, out of a total of 36.7㎢ of private land by 2030, priority acquisition will be pursued for 6.3㎢.

The 6.3㎢ targeted for priority acquisition includes land necessary to connect parks, such as hiking trails and walking paths, as well as land needed to secure citizen convenience and park management.

To encourage voluntary participation from landowners and efficiently utilize limited budgets, the city conducted a public recruitment in August last year, the first of its kind nationwide, resulting in a total of 226 parcels applying. After evaluation by autonomous districts, Seoul City, and the Compensation Review Committee, 41 parcels (128,000㎡) within 23 park zones were selected as acquisition targets this year. These include popular locations frequently used by the general public, such as the hiking trail at Bulamsan and rest areas at Inwangsan.

Seoul City plans to purchase portions of the acquisition targets, such as hiking trails and rest area sites actually used by citizens. On-site surveys and measurements of the acquisition targets will be completed in the first half of the year, with acquisition finalized within the year.

Yoo Young-bong, Director of the Seoul City Green City Bureau, said, “We will continue to promote negotiated acquisitions so that citizens can use urban parks comfortably and safely, providing green resting places.”

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