Gijang Cheolma is Rapidly Changing... Busan's First 'Urban Agriculture Park' to Open Next Year

Aerial view of Cheolma Urban Agriculture Park, Gijang-gun, Busan.

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[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The ‘Cheolma’ area in Gijang-gun is undergoing a complete transformation, including the creation of Busan’s first urban agriculture park.

Gijang-gun is implementing various projects in the Cheolma-myeon area to enhance residents’ convenience and ensure safety.

The major projects underway in Cheolma-myeon include ▶ the establishment of Cheolma Urban Agriculture Park ▶ creation of Gomnaejae Forest Rest Area ▶ construction of outdoor public parking lot in Imgi-ri ▶ road construction between Jangjeon 2-gyo and Seondong in Geumjeong-gu ▶ road and sidewalk maintenance between Cheolma-myeon Office and Jangjeon 1-gyo ▶ road and sidewalk maintenance between Cheolma-myeon Office and Cheolma Hanwoo Bulgogi Festival site.

With a total project cost of 19.7 billion KRW (2.4 billion KRW from city funds, 17.3 billion KRW from county funds), the Cheolma Urban Agriculture Park is expected to become Busan’s first integrated urban agriculture park.

■ Establishment of Cheolma Urban Agriculture Park

Busan’s first integrated urban agriculture park will be created. The urban agriculture park will transform a vacant lot within the development restriction zone into a healing space for citizens.

With a total project cost of 19.7 billion KRW (2.4 billion KRW city funds, 17.3 billion KRW county funds), the park will be built on approximately 27,254㎡ (about 8,244 pyeong) at 263 Jangjeon-ri, Cheolma-myeon, featuring a nature learning center, agricultural experience center, future-oriented agricultural experience education center (smart farm), agricultural experience fields (vegetable gardens, cultivation areas), and a library.

Since the urban agriculture park was announced in August 2020, compensation procedures have been underway, and on February 4 of this year, it passed the Urban Park Committee review.

Design work began in March this year, with completion targeted for 2022. After establishment, the park will be used to spread the value of urban agriculture and serve as a venue for urban-rural coexistence.

■ Creation of Gomnaejae Forest Rest Area

At the end of last year, Gijang-gun completed the Gomnaejae Forest Rest Area, a healing space for residents and children, and is currently finishing final touches.

With a total project cost of 1 billion KRW (800 million KRW national funds, 200 million KRW county funds), the rest area was created on approximately 6,331㎡ (about 1,918 pyeong) at San 53, Ungcheon-ri, Cheolma-myeon, featuring a forest classroom for young children’s forest experience activities, resting spaces for hikers and residents, and an easily walkable 1 km-long loess-paved walking trail.

Final maintenance will be completed by March this year, with an opening planned for April. In preparation for the post-COVID-19 era, this healing space will enhance residents’ convenience and revitalize the Gijang-gun area through forest experience activities utilizing forest environmental elements.

■ Construction of Outdoor Public Parking Lot in Imgi-ri, Cheolma-myeon

As the number of tourists visiting Cheolma-myeon increases every year, parking demand has steadily grown. Accordingly, Gijang-gun will construct an outdoor public parking lot in the area of 699-4 Imgi-ri, Cheolma-myeon this year.

With a total project cost of 1 billion KRW from county funds, land compensation was completed from 2019 to 2020, and construction is scheduled to begin in April this year, with completion planned around July to August.

The Imgi-ri outdoor public parking lot will have a total of 22 spaces, providing parking convenience to tourists and residents visiting Gijang-gun and contributing to local economic revitalization.

■ Road Construction between Jangjeon 2-gyo, Cheolma-myeon and Seondong, Geumjeong-gu

Gijang-gun is resuming the road construction project connecting Jangjeon 2-gyo in Cheolma-myeon to Seondong in Geumjeong-gu, which had been halted due to prolonged litigation following the contractor’s bankruptcy in 2014.

In May last year, Geumjeong-gu completed the road from Sanghyeon Village in Geumjeong-gu to the boundary of Cheolma-myeon, Gijang-gun, and from this year, the project in the Gijang-gun section is being actively promoted, expected to alleviate inconvenience for residents traveling between Cheolma-myeon and Geumjeong-gu.

Gijang-gun will invest a total of 5.5 billion KRW (1.7 billion KRW national funds, 3.5 billion KRW county funds), starting construction in March this year, aiming to complete a 2,383m-long, 15m-wide road by 2023.

Upon completion, chronic issues such as traffic inconvenience and environmental pollution will be resolved, greatly improving residents’ quality of life.

■ Road and Sidewalk Maintenance between Cheolma-myeon Office and Jangjeon 1-gyo

Gijang-gun is promoting road construction and sidewalk maintenance between Cheolma-myeon Office and Jangjeon 1-gyo, a section that had been inconvenient due to narrow roads and lack of sidewalks.

With a county budget of 210 million KRW this year, urban management planning decisions and detailed design services will be conducted, with road maintenance scheduled for completion by 2024.

■ Road and Sidewalk Maintenance between Cheolma-myeon Office and Cheolma Hanwoo Bulgogi Festival Site

The area around Cheolma-myeon Office hosts the annual ‘Cheolma Hanwoo Bulgogi Festival.’ Although many visitors come to enjoy the festival, there was no sidewalk from Cheolma-myeon Office to the festival site, causing inconvenience.

Gijang-gun is investing a total of 650 million KRW from county funds to improve the road and secure sidewalks, aiming to complete the project by June this year.

Once completed, safe pedestrian paths will be secured for local residents, visitors, and students of Cheolma Elementary School, significantly improving the living environment.

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