Will Naju Geumseongsan Summit Return to Citizens... Green Light for Permanent Opening

Mayor Yoon Byeong-tae Holds Meeting with Air Force Missile Defense Command... Official Proposal on Mountain Summit Opening Agenda

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Discussions and procedures between the government and military to return the summit of Geumseongsan Mountain in Naju, Jeollanam-do, to the 120,000 citizens of Naju are expected to intensify.

On the 19th, according to Naju City, Mayor Yoon Byung-tae recently met with military officials from the Air Force Missile Defense Command and officially requested the permanent opening of the Geumseongsan summit following the relocation of the Air Force anti-aircraft artillery unit.

At this meeting, Mayor Yoon conveyed the long-standing wish of the citizens for the permanent opening of the Geumseongsan summit and proposed two options for the military to consider.

The first option is to completely relocate the Air Force unit from the mountain summit, allowing the site to be linked with the development of hiking trails on Geumseongsan and tourism projects.

The second option is, if the Air Force unit remains stationed at the summit, to jointly utilize spaces and surrounding areas that are not directly related to the unit’s operational functions with Naju City.

If these proposals are accepted, the city plans to work with the military to establish hiking trails connecting the summit area and install observation decks.

Mayor Yoon emphasized ongoing government-military cooperation regarding the status of landmine removal and safety assurance at the summit, the introduction of new weapon systems, examples of openings in other local governments, and related collaborative matters.

Mayor Yoon stated, “For the citizens of Naju, Geumseongsan is not just a mountain but a spiritual hometown, a guardian deity, and a presence like a mother’s embrace. Rather than being limited by past security logic, it is now time for the military to actively cooperate for the permanent opening of the Geumseongsan summit with the value of coexistence with the citizens.”

An official from the Air Force Missile Defense Command said, “We are well aware of the citizens’ desire to open the mountain summit,” and added, “The military plans to find common ground and prepare measures to coexist with the citizens.”

He continued, “Alongside security, the military will actively review and negotiate Naju City’s proposals related to the permanent opening of the summit to directly benefit the lives of citizens.”

Naju City will continue consultations with the military regarding the officially proposed plan to permanently open the Geumseongsan summit and will begin the process of establishing detailed plans.

Meanwhile, Geumseongsan is the guardian mountain of Naju, standing at 451 meters above sea level and consisting of four peaks (Nojeokbong, Odobong, Dabokbong, and Jeongnyeongbong). A guardian mountain refers to a large mountain located behind a capital or major town.

Since the Goryeo Dynasty, it has been a sacred mountain where the state held mountain spirit rituals. Every year, people from not only Naju but across the country gathered at Geumseongsan to pray for a bountiful harvest and peace.

Today, along with its beautiful natural scenery, Geumseongsan features idle facilities such as an ecological water play area, ecological forest, and Naju Forest Experience Center, attracting attention as a tourism resource for hiking as well as experiential and leisure activities.

Every January 1st, citizens of Naju hold a sunrise event at the summit to pray for health and happiness in the new year.

Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong baekok@asiae.co.kr

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