Gwangju City Makes Major Shift to 'Forest Welfare City'... Establishes Comprehensive Plan for 2035

Gwangju City Establishes the '2035 Forest Welfare Comprehensive Plan'
Utilizing Forest Resources Covering 65.5% of the City
Promoting Four Major Hubs and 24 Key Initiatives
From 'Neoreungol Recreation Forest' to 'Wood Education Center'
Aiming to Become a Hub for Healing and Carbon Neutrality

Gwangju City in Gyeonggi Province has presented a future blueprint to enhance citizens' quality of life and achieve carbon neutrality by utilizing its abundant forest resources, which account for 65.5% of the city's total area.

Gwangju City established the '2026-2035 Gwangju-Type Forest Welfare Comprehensive Plan' on the 7th, focusing on creating a forest welfare environment in daily life and strengthening services. The photo shows the tape-cutting ceremony at the completion of the environmental improvement construction of Namhansanseong-myeon Administrative Welfare Center held in 2025. Photo by Gyeonggi Gwangju City

On April 7, Gwangju City announced the establishment of the '2026-2035 Gwangju-type Forest Welfare Comprehensive Plan,' focusing on the creation of a forest welfare environment in daily life and the strengthening of related services. The plan aims for a 'sustainable carbon-neutral city' and outlines the phased implementation of four major hubs and 24 key initiatives.

First, through the 'Forest Recreation and Healing Hub Development,' the city will invest 47.9 billion won in the Usan-ri area of Toechon-myeon to build the 'Neoreungol Natural Recreation Forest (Healing Town),' which will feature accommodations, experiential, and educational functions by June 2027. Additionally, the city plans to attract a 'National Healing Forest' to the same area, including a forest healing education center and forest trails with a budget of 11 billion won, thereby expanding the forest welfare infrastructure focused on healing.

The creation of 'forest welfare hubs within living areas' will also be pursued in parallel. In the academic forest area of Taehwasan, the city will develop barrier-free sharing trails and a forest experience center for children to improve accessibility, while a 5 billion won urban garden will be established in the city center to promote public health. Plans are also in place to create the 'Cheongnyang Wind Path Forest' to mitigate the urban heat island effect and improve air quality.

Gwangju City to Establish Comprehensive Forest Welfare Plan by 2035. Provided by Gyeonggi Gwangju City.

Furthermore, under the 'Wood Culture and Education Hub Development' strategy, the city will invest 45.5 billion won in Mokhyeon-dong to establish the 'Carbon Neutral Wood Education Comprehensive Center' utilizing domestic timber by 2027. In conjunction, the city will create a wood culture experience center and a forest arboretum to develop the area as a forest tourism hub. In the Namhansanseong area, the city plans to construct an eco-friendly wooden observatory with a budget of 13.1 billion won to serve as a tourism resource.

The city will also promote the establishment of a 'Wood-Friendly City Hub.' With an investment of 5 billion won in the Songjeong-dong area, it will expand the use of wood in daily spaces, such as constructing wooden walkways. Additionally, the city plans to increase the foundation for wood demand by promoting the use of wood in multi-use facilities, building wooden facilities for children, encouraging the use of domestic timber, and developing a timber industrial complex.

The city plans to move beyond infrastructure-centered policies and, after 2027, shift its policy direction toward enhancing connections between hubs and revitalizing facility operations.

Gwangju City to Establish Comprehensive Forest Welfare Plan by 2035. Photo by Gyeonggi Gwangju City

Mayor Bang Sehwan stated, "Through this comprehensive plan, Gwangju City will transform from a tourism-centered city to a forest welfare city expanding from appreciation to healing and education," adding, "We will simultaneously pursue the expansion of forest welfare infrastructure to revitalize the local economy and achieve carbon neutrality."

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