Enactment of the "Basic Ordinance on the Conservation and Use of Namsan Park"
All Operating Profits to be Used for Namsan Ecological Environment Conservation
Operation Entrusted to Seoul Facilities Corporation for Public Interest and Maintenance
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided to use the profits generated from the operation of the Namsan Gondola exclusively for the conservation of Namsan's ecological environment. By establishing a related city ordinance, they have created an institutional basis for the installation of the Namsan Gondola and plan to begin full-scale construction as early as the second half of this year.
On the 19th, Seoul announced that it will promulgate the "Seoul Metropolitan City Namsan Park Conservation and Utilization Basic Ordinance" on the 20th, which includes the grounds for using the operating profits of the Namsan Gondola as public funds for the conservation of Namsan's ecological environment.
The newly enacted ordinance includes basic principles such as restoring the ecosystem of Namsan Park and harmonious coexistence between nature and people, as well as provisions on ▲establishing a basic plan for Namsan Park ▲ecological environment conservation and leisure space creation projects ▲installation and operation of the gondola ▲use of gondola revenue ▲establishment and operation of the Namsan Development Committee.
In particular, the core is the establishment of an institutional basis to use the profits generated from the operation of the Namsan Gondola exclusively for ecological environment conservation projects in Namsan. A new Namsan Ecological Leisure Account will be created within the Urban Regeneration Fund to separately manage and operate the revenue from the gondola operation. To this end, Seoul has partially amended the "Ordinance on the Establishment and Operation of the Seoul Metropolitan City Urban Regeneration Fund" to specify the management and operation of the Namsan Ecological Leisure Account within the Urban Regeneration Fund, enhancing the clarity and efficiency of the fund's operation.
Additionally, to comprehensively and systematically conserve and manage Namsan Park, a "Namsan Park Basic Plan" will be established every five years. Various projects to be implemented using the operating profits from the Namsan Gondola, such as "ecological environment conservation" and "leisure space creation," will be included. Specifically, the "Namsan Park Basic Plan" will contain the basic goals and directions for the development of Namsan Park, matters related to ecological environment conservation, and plans for the creation and utilization of leisure spaces. This will include comprehensive management of ecological and landscape conservation areas, ecological environment restoration projects, as well as plans for the creation of new leisure spaces, maintenance, and management.
Measures for public interest and maintenance will also be promoted. To ensure the public nature of gondola operation and considering the maintenance of the public bus parking lot adjacent to Yejang Park (located 200m from Myeongdong Station Exit 1), where the lower station will be located, the Namsan Gondola will be entrusted to the Seoul Facilities Corporation for operation. Previously, the Seoul Metropolitan Council approved the "Consent for the Seoul Facilities Corporation to Act on the Management and Operation Affairs of the Namsan Gondola" at the 4th plenary session of the 323rd extraordinary meeting. Seoul plans to sign a consignment contract for the operation of the Namsan Gondola by the end of June.
Construction is expected to begin in the second half of the year. Currently, a preliminary qualification review is underway for Shindonga Construction, which submitted a sole bid. Kim Seung-won, head of Seoul's Balanced Development Headquarters, said, "An institutional basis has been established to use the operating profits of the gondola, a core part of the 'Sustainable Namsan Project' that harmonizes ecology and leisure, as public funds for ecological environment conservation. We will continue to develop comprehensive and sustainable plans for the conservation and management of Namsan to restore its natural environment and enhance citizen convenience."
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