Boseong-gun Accelerates Creation of Urban Forests to Improve Residents' Quality of Life

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Kim Cheol-woo) announced on the 21st that it has embarked on creating urban forests closely connected to residents' lives through the promotion of the Urban Forest Creation Contest Project by the Korea Forest Service and Jeollanam-do.

By the end of this year, a total project cost of 3.5 billion KRW will be invested to create ▲ resident participation forests in living areas (2 locations), ▲ health and recreation urban forests to reduce odor and fine dust (1 location), ▲ primitive forest excavation at Boseong Station (1 location), and ▲ living forest at Boseong Nonghyup parking lot (1 location).

The section between Boseong Station and Nokcha-gol Boseong Hyangto Market will preserve the existing ecology as much as possible, including 100-year-old apricot trees and Songak, to create a natural forest.

A 0.2 km-long forest trail using bamboo and wood chips has also been established so that residents can enjoy the forest.

The site utilizes vacant land formerly used as a freight train base in consultation with Korea Railroad Corporation.

The 2.1 km section from Usan Intersection in Boseong-eup to Janggeori Intersection will have a multifunctional forest created to block odor and fine dust entering the city due to reduced vehicle traffic following the relocation of the national road.

A walking path for healing while strolling through the forest and symbolic installations to inform about the history of Boseong are also planned.

The parking lot of Nonghyup Hanaro Mart is undergoing design services to create a living forest where residents can take light walks while blocking train noise.

Kim Cheol-woo, Governor of Boseong-gun, said, “The efforts to create a future city of Boseong within the forest by utilizing vacant land in the living areas centered on Boseong-eup and Beolgyo-eup are now gaining momentum,” adding, “We will create residential conditions where people can enjoy light walks and healthy leisure activities within their living areas without having to go far.”

Meanwhile, since 2018 until next year, the county has been creating various forests and premium trails through projects such as the Obongsan Ecological Trail Creation Project, Boseong River Crapemyrtle Road, and Dongyuncheon Ecological Stream Restoration Project to plant 10 million urban forest trees.