Let's Open the Ui-ryeong Trail Near Bukaksan at Cheong Wa Dae Permanently!...Signature Campaign by Gangbuk Residents

[Seoul District News] Gangbuk-gu Launches Online and Offline Petition Campaign Targeting 30,000 Signatures by May... Yangcheon-gu Opens ‘Yongwangsan Small Book Shelter’ and ‘Children’s Playground’... Dongdaemun-gu Revitalizes Alleyways Around Dapsimni-ro 48na-gil

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Gyeom-su) is promoting a district-wide signature campaign for the permanent opening of the Uiryeong-gil trail in line with the Blue House's full opening of Bukaksan Mountain.

Uiryeong-gil is a 6.8km old trail connecting Ui-dong in Gangbuk-gu and Gyohyeon-ri in Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, currently designated as Section 21 of the Bukhansan Dullegil trail. After the January 21 Incident, Uiryeong-gil was closed for security reasons from 1969 for 41 years and was reopened to the public in July 2009.

Currently, Uiryeong-gil is the only trail within Bukhansan National Park that operates exclusively by prior reservation, limiting the number of visitors and usage time.

Accordingly, Gangbuk-gu is promoting a “District-wide Signature Campaign for the Permanent Opening of Uiryeong-gil” so that hikers can freely hike Uiryeong-gil without prior reservation.

Since before, organizations have continuously made requests for the permanent opening of Uiryeong-gil, including ▲Gangbuk-gu Council’s two proposals urging full opening of Uiryeong-gil ▲Seoul City’s request for complete opening of Uiryeong-gil and relocation of the military police unit ▲Yangju-si’s proposal for autonomous passage by abolishing the prior reservation system ▲Joint statement adopted by the private Samgaksan Forum & Yangju-si Gamdong365 Promotion Council urging full opening of Uiryeong-gil.

The district plans to restart the district-wide signature campaign, which was suspended due to COVID-19, aiming for 30,000 signatures by May, and will deliver the “Bukhansan Uiryeong Permanent Full Opening Gangbuk Residents’ Petition” to the Ministry of Environment.

If Uiryeong-gil is permanently opened, the number of visitors is expected to increase, revitalizing the local economies of Gangbuk-gu and Yangju-si, which have been stagnant due to COVID-19.

The signature campaign can also be participated in online through the Gangbuk-gu Office website.

Mayor Park Gyeom-su of Gangbuk-gu said, “Just as Bukaksan Mountain was fully opened, Uiryeong-gil should also be permanently opened so that citizens can freely explore it,” and added, “I hope many people will participate in the signature campaign for the permanent opening of Uiryeong-gil, which is a long-cherished wish of Gangbuk residents.”

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) announced that on the 15th it opened the ‘Yongwangsan Small Book Shelter,’ a small cultural space in Yongwangsan, and also renovated the existing old children’s playground connected to the small book shelter.

Located in Yongwangsan Neighborhood Park (40, Mokdongjungang-ro 9-gil), the ‘Yongwangsan Small Book Shelter’ is a two-story building with a total floor area of 70.3㎡. The first floor (28.2㎡) will operate as a book shelter and cultural space, while the second floor (42.1㎡) consists of a multipurpose room (program room), a management office for the infant forest experience center, restrooms, and more.

Especially, the ‘Yongwangsan Small Book Shelter’ houses 673 books that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from infants to seniors, making it a healing space harmonized with books.

The collection in the book shelter includes ▲Infant section (298 books) ▲Children’s section (151 books) ▲Adult section (224 books) covering novels, poetry, travel, arts, humanities, etc. Visitors to Yongwangsan can freely read and relax. Operating hours are from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed on Mondays and public holidays.

Additionally, the newly renovated children’s playground adjacent to the Yongwangsan Small Book Shelter was designed using the terrain of the nearby forest and integrated with the small book shelter’s design. The playground, boasting bright and cheerful colors, is expected to help develop children’s sensitivity, adventurous spirit, and creativity. Currently, the children’s play facility installation inspection is underway, and it is scheduled to fully open before May 5th, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Children’s Day.

Around the Yongwangsan Small Book Shelter and children’s playground, 907 trees and shrubs have been planted, including large trees such as Ipopnamu and Baerongnamu, and shrubs such as Gamaksal, Gongjopap, and Kkotdaenggang, allowing for beautiful flower viewing throughout the four seasons.

For more details about the Yongwangsan Small Book Shelter and children’s playground, inquiries can be made to the Parks and Greenery Division.

An official from the Parks and Greenery Division said, “When you desperately need healing and rest in daily life, please visit the Yongwangsan Small Book Shelter and children’s playground, where reading, cultural arts, and play culture come together.”

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) held a kickoff meeting for the ‘Dapsimni-ro 48na-gil Alleyway Regeneration Project’ implementation plan and community revitalization service at 3 p.m. on the 27th at Dongdaemun-gu Office (photo).

The area around Dapsimni-ro 48na-gil, developed in the late 1980s through a housing improvement and redevelopment project, urgently needs improvement of living conditions due to aging buildings, parking problems, and development gaps with nearby areas. It was selected last year as part of Seoul City’s ‘2021 Alleyway Regeneration Autonomous District Contest’ and is planned to be developed into a safe and resident-friendly residential area by the end of 2023.

Before the project officially begins, the meeting comprehensively reviewed plans for improving living infrastructure and pedestrian environment, maintenance of safety facilities, living-oriented plans by alley type, preparation of maintenance support standards ensuring effectiveness, and maintenance and management plans through resident collaboration.

The district plans to proceed with construction by December 2023 based on the results of the service.

An official from the district stated, “Aiming to create a pleasant and safe village, we will actively collect opinions from local residents and improve the residential environment.”