Mayor Bang Sehwan: "Wood Education Comprehensive Center Will Be a Core Facility for an Eco-Friendly City... We Will Make It a Premier Landmark"

Gwangju Launches 45.5 Billion Won "Carbon Neutral Wood Education Comprehensive Center" Project
Aiming for Completion in 2027
To Become the Largest Forest and Wood Culture Complex in the Seoul Metropolitan Area

On November 26, the city of Gwangju in Gyeonggi Province held a groundbreaking ceremony for the "Carbon Neutral Wood Education Comprehensive Center Construction Project" at 249-37 Mokhyeon-dong, officially launching the project.

Bang Se-hwan, Mayor of Gwangju City (ninth from the right), and attendees are performing the groundbreaking ceremony at 249-37 Mokhyeon-dong on the 26th for the 'Carbon Neutral Wood Education Comprehensive Center Construction Project.' Provided by Gyeonggi Gwangju City

The Carbon Neutral Wood Education Comprehensive Center is Gwangju's flagship eco-friendly strategic project, aimed at expanding the use of domestic wood and strengthening forest education functions. With a total project cost of 45.5 billion won, the center will feature three educational buildings, one dormitory accommodating up to 100 people, and an access road to ensure accessibility.

Since being selected as a Korea Forest Service public project in 2023, this initiative has completed all major administrative procedures, including site selection and central government investment review for local finances. It has established itself as a public project jointly promoted by the national and local governments. In October, construction of the access road began as the first step.

On November 17, the city commenced construction of the education center, and on November 19, it finalized the winning design for the dormitory. With these steps, Gwangju is accelerating the creation of the nation's only integrated wood education platform, which will provide education, accommodation, and hands-on experience.

The education center is scheduled for completion in June 2027, and the dormitory in December 2027. After completion, the center is expected to become the largest forest and wood culture complex in the Seoul metropolitan area, attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually through connections with programs such as forest experience centers for children, forest education programs, and wood culture content.

The city anticipates that operating the center will yield a variety of public benefits, including increased demand for domestic wood, revitalization of wood culture tourism, and enhanced expertise in forest education.

Bang Se-hwan, Mayor of Gwangju City, is delivering a greeting at the groundbreaking ceremony for the "Carbon Neutral Wood Education Comprehensive Center Construction Project" on the 26th. Provided by Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province

Mayor Bang Sehwan stated, "The Wood Education Comprehensive Center is not just a building, but the starting point of a new paradigm where future generations can practice carbon neutrality and experience the value of domestic wood in everyday life. As a core facility for Gwangju's leap toward becoming an eco-friendly city, we will ensure it is developed safely and with substance, so that citizens can take pride in this premier facility."

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