"To the Public for the First Time in 120 Years"... Yongsan Children's Garden Opens on the 4th, Marking the Completion of the 'Yongsan Era'

Creating a Park Preserving US Military Base Features
Children's Facilities Including Yongsan Bookstore, Exhibition Space, and Sports Field
Expanding Communication Points While Keeping Promise on Yoon's 1st Anniversary

A portion of the Yongsan Park land returned from the US Forces Korea will be opened under the name 'Yongsan Children's Garden' on the 4th, marking the first anniversary of President Yoon Suk-yeol's inauguration. Out of the total 900,000㎡ area of Yongsan Park, 300,000㎡ has been developed into the Yongsan Children's Garden.

The site of Yongsan Children's Garden holds symbolic significance as it was occupied by the Japanese military after the 1904 Korea-Japan Protocol, then used as a US military base after liberation, and is now being opened to the public for the first time in 120 years. Following the opening of the Blue House with the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, the opening of Yongsan Children's Garden is seen as completing the Yongsan era.

From the observation hill created in Yongsan Children's Garden, the Yongsan Presidential Office building can be seen.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 2nd, two days before the public opening, the media preview of Yongsan Children's Garden revealed an open layout featuring beige walls and red-roofed single-story detached houses characteristic of the former US military base, along with a wide lawn and a Platanus tree-lined street preserved as much as possible.

Entering through the main entrance near Sinyongsan Station (the former US military base Gate 14), visitors encounter the General's Quarters converted into a promotional center, Yongsan Library remodeled from single-story houses where adults and children can enjoy books separately, a lawn yard, a viewing hill, and a sports field located to the east.

The 'Su House,' recreated based on an interview with Sue Kosner who lived on the Yongsan base for three years starting in 1967, replicates the home of a US military family at that time. The 'Base Story' space introduces stories such as the US 8th Army Club, which had a significant influence on Korean popular culture, providing interesting exhibits.

The approximately 70,000㎡ lawn yard covers the area where four baseball fields used by US soldiers once stood, now filled with grass, allowing children to run and play and also serving as a venue for performances.

Looking north from the lawn yard, visitors can see the Yongsan Presidential Office building and the Ministry of National Defense building. On one side, the cafe 'Eoullim' offers a panoramic view of the lawn yard. The cafe uses carbon-reduced coffee beans and sells snacks made by people with developmental disabilities, while also collaborating on projects with youth cafes in the Yongsan area.

Yongsan Children's Garden has a small library called Yongsan Seoga where adults and children can enjoy books.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

During weekdays, only Cafe Eoullim operates, but on weekends, food trucks and temporary cafes are set up to provide food for children and families.

Especially, climbing the wildflower walking path, a trail around the lawn yard, offers a close view of the Presidential Office building to the north and the National Museum of Korea to the south, enhancing the spaciousness of the area.

To the east of Yongsan Children's Garden is a sports field consisting of baseball and soccer fields exclusively for children under 12, contributing to children's physical development and the promotion of sports culture. Along with the garden opening, a nationwide youth baseball and soccer tournament invited by the Presidential Office will be held here. A secondary entrance connecting the sports field to the National Museum of Korea is also a notable feature.

The Yongsan Cultural Center explained that after families enjoy Yongsan Children's Garden, they can visit the National Museum of Korea to experience Korean cultural heritage and traditions.

Permanent programs at Yongsan Children's Garden include busking and walking tours. Busking sessions are held on Wednesdays from 12:15 PM to 12:45 PM for 30 minutes, and on weekends from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM. The operating periods are May to June and September to November.

The comprehensive information center located at the main entrance of Yongsan Children's Garden. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The walking tour, which explores the history, culture, and current state of Yongsan Park with a professional guide, operates once on weekdays (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM, and twice on weekends from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM and 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM. The walking tour operates during the same periods as busking, May to June and September to November.

The Yongsan Cultural Center advised that only pre-approved vehicles are allowed access to Yongsan Children's Garden, and since the main entrance parking lot is small, visitors are recommended to use the subway. If vehicle use is absolutely necessary, parking at the National Museum of Korea and entering through the secondary entrance is preferable.

The Presidential Office stated that the government conducted thorough environmental monitoring considering the characteristics of the site and confirmed that there are no issues with garden use. Monitoring was conducted in September and November last year and March this year at five indoor and six outdoor locations using air quality measurement methods, and safety was confirmed by comparative measurements with four surrounding areas.

A Presidential Office official said, "With the opening of Yongsan Children's Garden on the first anniversary of the inauguration, President Yoon's promise to come closer to the people has been fulfilled," adding, "We will continue to work on cultivating spaces for future generations and increase communication with the public."

Meanwhile, the Presidential Office explained that additional safety measures were implemented across the temporarily opened area, including covering the soil with more than 15 cm of earth, planting grass, installing vegetation mats, and removing fuel storage tanks to minimize contact with existing soil. Various programs such as pot-making experiences, busking performances, classical concerts, and walking tours will be held throughout Yongsan Children's Garden in the future.

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