From Neglected Public Space to Resident Communication Hub! ... Jeonggwan-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, Undertakes Greening Project

A Gijang-gun Jeonggwan-eup official is supplying water using a water truck hose after finishing sowing canola seeds along the walking trail section.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] Jeonggwan-eup in Gijang-gun, Busan, and the Jeonggwan-eup Residents' Autonomy Committee are conducting a greening project on a long-neglected unsanitary vacant lot as part of an urban landscape improvement initiative.

The vacant lot is located in Mojon-ri, Jeonggwan-eup, and is a planned site for a school construction, but due to long-term non-execution, it had been left abandoned in the center of the new town.

Accordingly, Jeonggwan-eup received approval for free use of the site in July after continuous consultations with the landowner, Korea Land and Housing Corporation.

After partial maintenance of the site in September, a supplementary budget of 30 million KRW was secured, and full-scale greening construction began in October.

Jeonggwan-eup is currently creating a walking trail and flower bed on approximately 3,600㎡ of land. On the 25th, palm mats were installed along the walking trail section, rapeseed seeds were sown, and water was supplied to the sowing area using a water truck.

Kim Jong-cheon, head of Jeonggwan-eup, said, “The vacant lot abandoned in the middle of the city caused bad odors and pests due to various illegal dumping of waste, which deteriorated the urban aesthetics and led to continuous complaints from residents. Through this project, we aim to resolve these complaints and create a bright and pleasant urban environment.”

Kim added, “The rapeseed seeds just sown will grow, and when the rapeseed flower bed is formed next spring, we plan to provide various attractions such as art exhibitions and photo zones in connection with local cultural and artistic groups.”

The Jeonggwan-eup Residents' Autonomy Committee applied for an additional greening project for the site in August under the ‘2023 Gijang-gun Resident Participation Budget Project.’

The project is expected to be finalized after review and selection by the Resident Participation Budget Committee in December.

Moon Jae-cheol, chairman of the Jeonggwan-eup Residents' Autonomy Committee, said, “If selected as a 2023 Resident Participation Budget Project, we will additionally maintain the walking trail and create an autumn cosmos flower bed, establishing the area as a resting space for local residents with events such as mural painting activities involving community participation.”

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