Yongsan 'Sports Field and Softball Stadium' Formerly Used by USFK Opened to the Public

The sports field and softball field within Yongsan Base, returned to our government, will be temporarily opened to the public before being developed into a park.

On the 8th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that it will begin site development work to open approximately 45,000㎡ north of the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and about 8,000㎡ north of the 5th Officers' Quarters complex southeast of the US military base to the public.

This site is the Yongsan Base returned for the first time since the announcement of the Yongsan National Park creation in 2005. Following the procedures under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) initiated in December 2019, the site was returned to our government last December after consultations between South Korea and the United States.

The Ministry of Land installed security fences to separate the areas still used by the US military within Yongsan Base from the returned areas after the site was returned, and decided on the site utilization plan after collecting public opinions.

The sports field is adjacent to the north side of the National Museum of Korea and is accessible on foot. It was previously a space where US military personnel engaged in sports activities. The soccer and baseball fields will be used as before after repair work on the artificial turf and installation of safety fences. The remaining areas, previously used as a park and golf practice range, will be developed into walking trails.

The softball field is located in the southeast of Yongsan Base and will be used as a sports facility after site cleanup through this development work. Considering its proximity to the already opened 5th Officers' Quarters complex, it is also planned to be utilized as an outdoor event space linked with the 5th complex.

The Ministry of Land plans to complete the development work by March next year and open the facilities to the public as soon as preparations such as establishing a sports facility reservation system are completed.

Kim Bok-hwan, head of the Yongsan Park Development Promotion Planning Team at the Ministry of Land, said, "This measure is significant as it is the first time the returned site since the 2005 announcement of Yongsan Park creation is being opened to the public," adding, "We will continue to open returned sites so that the public can feel anticipation for the creation of Yongsan Park."