Mayor Won Kangsoo: "After 70 Years, Returned to Citizens... Camp Long Citizen Park Marks a New Beginning for Wonju"

Mayor Won Kangsoo Holds Press Conference...
Completion Targeted for Second Half of 2026
A New Landmark Integrating Science, Culture, Arts, and Sports
Transforming into a Daily-Life Platform for Citizens
Linked Development with National Gangwon Science Museum, City Art Museum, and More

Wonju City is returning the former Camp Long site, which had been closed off as a U.S. military base for 70 years, to its citizens and will redevelop it as the new "Camp Long Citizen Park."

Won Kangsoo, Mayor of Wonju City, is announcing the plan for the "Camp Long Cultural and Sports Park Development Project" at a press conference on the 30th. Provided by Wonju City

On the 30th, Won Kangsoo, Mayor of Wonju City, held a press conference in the city hall briefing room and stated, "After nearly 70 years of being off-limits, the Camp Long site is now preparing to be reborn as a space where citizens are the true owners, under a new name."

This project is a large-scale urban regeneration initiative under the slogan "A daily-life platform for Wonju, named and created by citizens." It will be developed as a multi-purpose park that integrates science, culture, arts, and sports.

Camp Long Citizen Park is being developed on a 334,861-square-meter site, formerly a U.S. Army base, with a project budget of 129 billion won. This is equivalent to about 46 soccer fields. Since its closure in 2010, the site has not been open to the public. The park will be centered around green spaces and waterfront areas where citizens can comfortably stroll and enjoy leisure activities throughout the year. It will feature a fountain plaza and cascade-style waterway to provide a relaxing space where people can experience nature within the city. Facilities such as children's playgrounds, water play areas, and experiential zones are also planned so that families can enjoy the park together.

In addition, the city plans to create outdoor plazas and cultural spaces that reflect the region's history and culture, in order to preserve the memory of Camp Long and develop the park as a venue for community interaction and cultural exchange. The project is currently 60% complete, with the goal of finishing construction in the second half of 2026.

Wonju City completed the return of the Camp Long site from the Ministry of National Defense in December 2019, after years of negotiations. In September of this year, the city held a public contest for the park's new name to allow citizens to help shape the identity of the new space.

Aerial view of Wonju Camp Long. Provided by Wonju City

A total of 241 ideas were submitted, and after two rounds of expert review and a citizen survey, the name "Camp Long Citizen Park" was selected, reflecting the park's local character, historical significance, and public appeal.

The park will be developed as an open space for relaxation that can be enjoyed year-round, where all citizens can experience leisure and culture.

The Camp Long Cultural and Sports Park site will house the National Gangwon Science Museum, the Northern Youth Culture Center, the Wonju City Art Museum, and the Taejang Multi-purpose Sports Center.

Mayor Won Kangsoo stated, "Camp Long Citizen Park will be a space for citizens' daily lives, carrying memories of the past while moving toward the future. We will continue to incorporate citizens' feedback to ensure the park becomes a place for all Wonju residents."

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