Yun Byeong-tae, Mayor of Naju, to Brief at Yeongsangang Garden Site on the 22nd

Yoon Byung-tae, Mayor of Naju City in Jeollanam-do, will hold a session to directly explain to the media the vision for a new Yeongsan River Renaissance era, which he has emphasized as a core driving force for regional development in the 8th local government term, along with major administrative issues.

The city announced on the 18th that Mayor Yoon will hold a 2024 administrative briefing at the Yeongsan River Garden construction site starting at 2 p.m. on the 22nd.

Mayor Yoon plans to directly explain to attending journalists the "Progress and Vision of the Yeongsan River Garden Construction Project," the "Basic Direction of the 2024 Naju Yeongsan River Festival," and the "Progress of the Namdo Uibyung History Park Construction Project."

Perspective view of Naju Yeongsangang National Garden development.
[Photo by Naju City]

Since the launch of the 8th local government term, the city has been independently promoting the Yeongsan River Garden project as a waterfront project utilizing retention basin space, along with flood control and water management projects focused on permanent disaster prevention, after being selected for the integrated river project contest held by the Ministry of Environment.

The Yeongsan River Garden is the first phase project toward the ultimate goal of designation as a national garden.

In line with the timing of this year’s integrated festival, the city is promoting the development of a festival plaza, themed gardens, parking lots, picnic areas, access bridges, and expansion of embankment roads on approximately 170,000 pyeong (about 561,983 square meters) of the Yeongsan River retention basin.

Mayor Yoon will explain the plan for the Yeongsan River local garden and the direction for national garden designation based on the past and present of Naju Yeongsan River, which was the center of the ancient cultural zone of the Yeongsan River basin for 2,000 years, as well as its limitations and improvement directions.

This year’s representative festival event, the "2024 Naju Yeongsan River Festival," will be held for five days from October 9 to 13, starting with a pre-festival event on October 8 at the Yeongsan River Garden area.

Mayor Yoon will explain the infrastructure development status for utilizing the Yeongsan River Garden as a permanent festival venue, the festival schedule, and main programs, and introduce Park Myung-sung, the general director appointed on April 8.

The festival is planned as an integrated festival that includes resident participation programs such as the Agriculture Festa, Pet Festa, marathon competition, and neighborhood singing contests, continuing from last year.

Mayor Yoon will then reveal the background and progress of the Namdo Uibyung History Park construction project, a Jeollanam-do pledge project to honor the patriotic spirit of the Namdo Uibyung (Southern Volunteer Army), including the selection of the project site and other developments.

In particular, he will explain the progress of the Namdo Uibyung History Park, including the Namdo Uibyung History Museum, and the utilization plan for the second phase project site based on the recommendation to dismantle the Goguryeo Palace drama set submitted by the Naju Citizens’ Rights Committee on the 16th.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, “The Yeongsan River National Garden, the 2024 Naju Yeongsan River Festival, and the Namdo Uibyung History Museum are stepping stones and catalysts for realizing Naju as a city with 5 million tourists,” adding, “I hope this on-site explanation session will gain media consensus and lead to increased interest and cooperation from the local community.”

Naju = Kim Yuk-bong, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy baekok@asiae.co.kr