A Healing Space for People and Pets... Yeongsan River Pet Theme Park Project Begins

Naju City in South Jeolla Province has officially begun work on creating a "complex cultural space" along the Yeongsan River, designed for both companion animals and people.

On April 16, Naju City announced that it has selected the winning architectural design for the Yeongsan River Pet Theme Park project and has begun moving forward with the initiative.

The competition evaluated eight design entries, with the proposal by Kim Dongwoo, CEO of Jipyung Architects & Engineers Co., Ltd., ultimately chosen as the winner. The judging panel consisted of seven external experts in architecture and urban planning, who evaluated the submissions based on spatial efficiency, local symbolism, and creativity.

Naju City is planning to develop a pet theme park in the Wongok-ri area of Geumcheon-myeon. The photo shows the perspective map of the winning entry for the architectural design competition.
Photo by Naju City

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The winning design received high marks for maximizing land use and organically connecting interior and exterior spaces, thereby ensuring both functionality and user convenience. It was especially praised for its symbolic and sophisticated design, which features a three-dimensional spatial composition inspired by the natural environment of the Yeongsan River.

The project site is located in the Wongok-ri area of Geumcheon-myeon, with a total investment of 14.3 billion won. As a core initiative, it aims to simultaneously build pet-friendly cultural infrastructure and develop local tourism resources, thus contributing to the revitalization of the regional economy.

The city also plans to secure new growth engines by combining the pet industry with tourism, including the construction of a companion animal complex cultural center in conjunction with the theme park.

Kang Sang-gu, Acting Mayor of Naju City, stated, "We will ensure the smooth progress of the project based on a design that combines creativity and feasibility," adding, "We aim to create a premium pet cultural space that both citizens and pet owners can enjoy together."

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