Creation of 'Eunpyeong Bongsan Cypress Forest' in Seoul's Greenbelt Area... Supported by National Funds, Barrier-Free Walking Trails, Observatory, and Photo Zones Installed
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) has secured a total budget of 1 billion KRW, including 600 million KRW in national funds, to improve residents' living environments within Seoul's greenbelt areas and will invest it in the creation of a Hinoki Cypress Healing Forest.
The Seoul resident environment improvement project is promoting a total of eight projects across five autonomous districts to achieve balanced regional development. Among them, the Eunpyeong Bongsan Hinoki Cypress Forest project has been underway for five years from 2014 to 2018.
With the implementation of the living park creation project this time, various convenience facilities such as barrier-free walking trails, observatories, photo zones, customized resting spaces for different life stages, signboards, and lighting will be established in the Hinoki Cypress forest.
The Eunpyeong Bongsan Hinoki Cypress Forest was initiated as Seoul's first healing forest. In 2014, following a proposal from a resident of Sinsa-dong, Eunpyeong, and efforts by then Eunpyeong-gu Mayor Kim Mi-kyung, who was the Chairperson of the Urban Planning and Management Committee of the Seoul Metropolitan Council at the time, to secure the budget, it was selected as a pilot project by Seoul City.
Accordingly, 12,400 Hinoki Cypress trees were planted over the past five years, and since 2019, under expert consultation, various shrubs and herbaceous plants such as moss phlox have been planted beneath the Hinoki Cypress forest to create a flower garden.
Additionally, in 2019 and early 2020, 17,650 trees of nine species were planted as part of a tree-planting project aimed at reducing fine dust in the Bongsan area.
Meanwhile, in July, the Bongsan area drew significant attention due to the appearance of giant stick insects.
In response, Eunpyeong-gu deployed drones to carry out pest control operations. More than ten rounds of chemical and physical pest control treatments were conducted to manage the Bongsan area. Mayor Kim Mi-kyung, who personally participated in the pest control efforts on-site, stated, “It is regrettable that residents suffered damage due to the giant stick insects caused by climate change,” and took proactive pest control measures. Eunpyeong-gu, which has many large and small mountains, responded swiftly to insect outbreaks caused by climate change.
Phytoncides emitted from Hinoki Cypress trees help reduce stress by lowering the blood cortisol hormone levels produced when a person is stressed and enhance immunity.
Moreover, Hinoki Cypress is known as a highly practical tree with good wood quality and excellent fragrance.
Eunpyeong-gu anticipates that residents and tourists will be able to walk along the circular trails while the Hinoki Cypress trees grow, directly experiencing the various changes in the Hinoki forest.
Furthermore, the Bongsan Hinoki Cypress Forest is expected to become a dense forest of Hinoki Cypress trees in about ten years. At that time, Seoul citizens will be able to enjoy the phytoncides and the forest path will fully function as a Hinoki Cypress healing forest.
Mayor Kim Mi-kyung of Eunpyeong-gu stated, “We will protect the clear and beautiful Eunpyeong from the variables of climate change and further develop the Hinoki Cypress forest, which brings comfort, into a landmark not only for Eunpyeong but for the entire Seoul metropolitan area.”
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