Jinju City, "Heal Yourself at 'Hamo Forest' by the Namgang River"

An Abandoned Forest Reborn as a Premium Resting Place for Citizens

Mayor Jo Gyu-il's On-site Visit to Namgang River Harmo Forest [Image Source=Jinju City]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Jinju City, Gyeongnam, announced on the 21st that it has created a new premium forest called ‘Hamo Forest’ over an area of 5,300㎡ along the Namgang River in the Juyak-dong area by investing 400 million KRW of city funds, providing convenience facilities and resting spaces for citizens.

Jinju City established a maintenance plan through an on-site visit by Professor Kang Ho-cheol of the Department of Landscape Architecture at Gyeongsang National University in September last year to transform the neglected forest next to the Namgang River bicycle path into a resting space for citizens. After obtaining a river occupancy permit from the Busan Regional Land Management Office, construction began in April this year and was completed in August. The city named the newly created premium forest ‘Hamo Forest’ and opened it to the public.

Mayor Cho Gyu-il, who visited the site, said, “I hope citizens will heal their tired bodies and minds from busy daily life in the newly renovated ‘Hamo Forest’ and use it as a new resting space along the Namgang River.” He added, “We will continue to maintain old forests to create a safe and pleasant environment, providing various resting spaces for citizens.”

A city official said, “The neglected forest has become a resting place where citizens can relax and enjoy after pruning and thinning, planting flowers and trees, and installing various convenience facilities and exercise equipment.” He added, “We hope it becomes a beautiful park where many memories can be made along with the Hamo sculpture installed in the forest.”