Suncheon-si Plans Post-Expo Urban Development in D?sseldorf

After the Expo, New Plans for Urban Space Redevelopment

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik] Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do, announced that on the 22nd local time, Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu of Suncheon visited D?sseldorf in northern Germany with the Expo Organizing Committee and completed a tour of the riverside area near the Rhine River (Rheinuferpromenade).

D?sseldorf is a city that was reduced to ashes during World War II but was rebuilt as a coal and steel trading port, leading the post-war Rhine River miracle.

However, in the 1970s, as its main industries declined, the city fell into a vicious cycle of income reduction and population decline, leading to urban decay.

[Photo by Suncheon City]

In response, the city established a port regeneration master plan to reorganize the city and focused on attracting media industries, transforming it into an international commercial city where fashion and trade fairs are held today.

However, the riverside road between the old downtown and the Rhine River, which divided the city, resulted in a lack of pedestrians and made it difficult to regain vitality. Therefore, in 1993, the city undertook a large-scale project to underground a 2km four-lane riverside road and create a tree-lined Rhine River promenade on the surface.

When the project began, there was much public opposition due to the enormous budget of 420 billion won. However, once the green corridor connecting the old downtown and the Rhine River was created, the city's image changed, and the commercial district revived accordingly. This area, called the "urban beach," has now become the most beloved resting place for D?sseldorf citizens.

A representative of the D?sseldorf Tourism Board (Yeger) said, "The Rhine River underpass (underground tunnel) is an innovative project that qualitatively developed the city.

Although 55,000 vehicles daily once separated the Rhine River from the city, now people enjoy sunbathing in the city park, and many festivals and international events are held.

It is the result of transforming the city's appearance and changing lifestyles. The Rheinuferrpromenade (urban beach) is a pride of our city," expressing pride.

Cityscape of D?sseldorf, Germany
Photo by Suncheon City

Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu, observing D?sseldorf's case, said, "I was impressed by the successful use of urban space reorganization as a card at the turning point brought by industrial decline. The change in spatial structure connecting people to people and people to nature brought remarkable changes to the city," adding, "The green corridor connecting the river and the city has become a beloved healing space for citizens, an incentive that makes residents want to move in, and a triple-win effect that revitalizes the old downtown economy through the activation of riverside commercial areas. I was deeply impressed by this."

In January, Suncheon City introduced Green Island, a 1km asphalt road converted into a grass plaza with an investment of 2.9 billion won.

Unlike D?sseldorf, where 420 billion won was invested to underground a 2km road, Suncheon chose to lay grass over the road, significantly saving project costs, though there were concerns.

However, when Green Island, connecting the downtown and the National Garden, was unveiled, Suncheon citizens responded as if they had gained a new "liberation zone."

Mayor Noh said, "Based on the D?sseldorf case confirmed today, we will newly plan the utilization of Ocheon Green Plaza and Green Island after the Expo. We will also steadily prepare the Old Downtown Renaissance project, which will include the new city hall, citizen plaza, and webtoon center, as well as the Dongcheon premium riverside space creation project, to innovatively transform the city."

Meanwhile, since the 19th, Suncheon City, together with the Expo Organizing Committee, has been conducting an advanced site tour of five German cities. So far, they have visited Stuttgart, Freiburg, and Mannheim, and are scheduled to visit Bonn in northern Germany on the last day.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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