Sokcho City Begins Construction of Hwachae-Rak Center, the Urban Regeneration Hub for Hwachae Village

Expanding Resident-Centered Living Infrastructure
Anticipated Improvements in Residential Conditions

Sokcho City in Gangwon Province is accelerating efforts to improve residential conditions that are tangible to residents of Hwachae Village, such as commencing construction on the Hwachae-Rak Center, a core facility of the Hwachae Village urban regeneration project.

Bird's-eye view of Sokcho Hwachaerak Center. Sokcho City Je

The Hwachae-Rak Center is a multi-purpose community hub that can be used by all residents of Hwachae Village.

After beginning construction in April, Sokcho City recently held a construction progress meeting and a regular meeting of the safety and health council to review the direction of the project and safety management measures, ensuring thorough project implementation.

The Hwachae-Rak Center is being built at 325-1 Seorak-dong and three adjacent lots, with three above-ground floors and a total floor area of 644.99 square meters. The Hwachae-Rak Garden, a relaxation space for residents, will also be established alongside the center.

On the first floor of the center, there will be a village cafe called 'Hwachae-Rak 1st Section' and a small library. The second floor will house community sports facilities and an office for the Seoraksan civilian mountain rescue team. The third floor will feature three rooms for Seorak Stay Branch No. 2. The city plans to operate these spaces as a village hub, integrating community activities, cultural and educational programs, sports, and stay-type programs.

The Hwachae-Rak Garden, which will be established together with the center, will be created as an open space where residents can relax in their daily lives and interact with neighbors.

Once the center and garden are completed, Hwachae Village is expected to be transformed into an urban regeneration hub equipped with spaces for both resident convenience and visitors.

The goal is to complete both the Hwachae-Rak Center and the Hwachae-Rak Garden by April 2027.

During construction, the city will operate a communication system among site personnel to improve the transparency of project management, prevent safety accidents, and minimize inconvenience for residents.

The Hwachae Village Senior Care Room, which is being developed alongside the Hwachae-Rak Center, is scheduled to break ground in June. The Senior Care Room, a space for elderly leisure and care, will be newly built at 342-44 Seorak-dong, with two above-ground floors and a total area of 241 square meters.

Meanwhile, Sokcho City, which is carrying out the Hwachae Village urban regeneration project, has consistently promoted initiatives closely related to residents’ daily lives, such as installing smart streetlights, clean houses, improving alley environments, and repairing old houses.

Following the completion of the first phase of the alley environment improvement project in June last year, the second phase was finished in April this year, and repairs for 121 old houses have also been completed, gradually improving the village environment.

The city plans to further improve residential conditions in Hwachae Village and revitalize the community by steadily advancing projects based on residents’ feedback.

A Sokcho City official stated, "The Hwachae-Rak Center will become a multi-purpose community hub where Hwachae Village residents can gather and experience change firsthand," adding, "We will do our utmost to ensure the smooth progress of the urban regeneration project in Hwachae Village—from alleyway improvements and old house repairs to the expansion of living infrastructure—so that these initiatives can lead to a better quality of life for residents."

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