Seongnam City to Open 'Seongnam Dumulgil' Walking Trail at Former Gumi-dong Sewage Treatment Plant on June 13

Shin Sangjin, Mayor of Seongnam:
"Following the Opening of the Walking Trail,
Construction of a Music Center and Attraction of a World-Class Art Museum to Follow"

Seongnam City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor: Shin Sangjin) announced on June 5 that it will hold an opening ceremony for 'Seongnam Dumulgil,' temporarily opening the site of the former sewage treatment plant located at 195 Gumi-dong, Bundang-gu, at 4 p.m. on June 13.

A panoramic view of Seongnam Dumulgil located at the confluence of Tancheon and Dongmakcheon. Provided by Seongnam City

The name 'Seongnam Dumulgil' reflects the geographical feature where two streams, Tancheon and Dongmakcheon, cross Seongnam and meet. Entering through the east Tancheon entrance, visitors can view the approximately 9-meter-high 'Art Wall' installation and walk along a trail that passes through the Children's Forest Playground, Picnic Yard, Flower Garden Yard, and Dambit Rest Area, leading to the west Dongmakcheon entrance.

In particular, the Dambit Rest Area on the west side features nighttime lighting that embodies moonlight and starlight, allowing visitors to enjoy the tranquility of the forest and the night scenery while sitting on benches.

Since the closure of the Gumi-dong former sewage treatment plant in 1997, the site had been left unused for about 30 years. To open the area to citizens as soon as possible, Seongnam City completed the 'Safety Measures Design Development and Detailed Design Service' last year. Over the past four months, the city finished landscaping work, including the installation of safety and rest facilities and the creation of walking trails.

'Seongnam Dumulgil' will be open to the public from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the summer season (June to August), although the operating hours may change depending on the progress of nearby construction. Various safety facilities, such as safety fences, motion sensors, solar-powered sensor lights, and CCTV, have been installed along the main paths to ensure safe use even at night.

Seongnam Dumulgil Art Wall. Provided by Seongnam City

The opening ceremony on June 13 will last about one hour and will include a pre-ceremony performance, a progress report, a ribbon-cutting, a site tour, and a commemorative photo session. Any citizen is welcome to participate freely.

The Gumi-dong sewage treatment plant began construction in 1994 and was completed in 1997, but its operation was halted during trial runs due to opposition from local residents. As a result, the facility remained unused for 28 years and became a facility shunned by the community.

In response, Seongnam City has actively promoted the redevelopment of the former Gumi-dong sewage treatment plant site as a rest and cultural space for citizens, as well as a landmark centered on arts and culture, as part of the 8th popularly elected administration's pledges. This includes efforts to attract a world-class art museum. In July, a music center and cafe are also scheduled to open, with related construction currently underway.

Mayor Shin Sangjin stated, "Temporarily opening the Gumi-dong sewage treatment plant site as a rest and green space will serve as a catalyst for the full-scale regeneration project. Starting with the opening of the walking trail, we will proceed step by step with the construction of a music center and the attraction of a world-class art museum, transforming this place into a representative destination where citizens and culture coexist."

He added, "I ask for your interest in this new beginning as the sewage treatment plant returns to the embrace of the citizens."

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