The Former Gukgun Gwangju Hospital Transformed into a Healing Space, 'Hwajeong Neighborhood Park'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The former Armed Forces Gwangju Hospital, which treated civilians who were taken to the Martial Law Command and tortured during the May 18 Democratic Movement, will be transformed into a healing space called ‘Hwajeong Neighborhood Park.’

Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 22nd that it will invest a total project cost of 11.1 billion KRW (7.1 billion KRW for land compensation and 4 billion KRW for construction) and begin construction of Hwajeong Neighborhood Park from December this year, aiming for completion by December next year.

Hwajeong Neighborhood Park (107,606㎡) significantly expanded in area after the former Armed Forces Gwangju Hospital relocated to Hampyeong County in 2007 and the site was designated as a neighborhood park. Designated as May 18 Historic Site No. 23, the Armed Forces Gwangju Hospital forcibly transferred citizens injured by torture and assault during interrogation at the Martial Law Command to the military hospital for treatment instead of sending them to civilian hospitals during the May 18 Democratic Movement.

After the Armed Forces Gwangju Hospital moved to Hampyeong County, some facilities were refurbished and opened to the public, and many citizens currently use the area as a walking trail. However, aside from the walking paths, the park lacked basic infrastructure such as restrooms, exercise facilities, and rest areas, and visitors and residents have experienced inconvenience due to illegal dumping, unauthorized farming, and blocked drainage.

Gwangju City held residents’ briefing sessions to establish the park development plan and conducted several meetings with nearby residents’ autonomous associations to incorporate necessary facilities as much as possible.

Existing forested areas will be preserved as much as possible while walking trails and parking lots will be constructed, exercise equipment will be installed throughout, and most of the illegally farmed land, which had been deteriorating, will be transformed into green spaces and resting areas.

The park’s forest will also be connected to the National Violence Trauma Healing Center, scheduled to begin construction by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, allowing the park to be used as a healing space.

Among the former hospital facilities, buildings with high historical symbolism such as the main hospital building will be preserved, while structures with low safety ratings or incomplete warehouse-type buildings will be included in this demolition project to remove hazards in advance.

In particular, when demolishing buildings, safety will be prioritized according to the recently issued ‘Gwangju City Building Demolition Safety Management Manual’ to prevent damage to surrounding residential areas.

Prior to construction, a detailed survey has been conducted since May to check for the presence of the endangered wild species, the Monggongi frog. The Monggongi frogs found in some sections have been relocated to habitats within the park and released.

The park construction is scheduled to proceed for about one year starting in December. During construction, heavy construction equipment used for paving access roads, demolishing buildings, transporting soil, and laying drainage pipes will operate continuously, and various construction materials will be stored on-site, creating hazards. Therefore, park access will be restricted during the construction period.

The funds for compensation among the total project costs for the park development will be covered by public contributions paid as a result of prior negotiations for the urban planning change of Honam University Ssangchon Campus.

Kim Jun-young, Head of the New Vitality Promotion Headquarters, said, “We expect Hwajeong Neighborhood Park to revitalize the old downtown area,” and added, “As it has been long awaited, we will do our best to reflect on the significance of the May 18 Democratic Movement and ensure the park is utilized as a healing space.”

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