Incheon 'Seonhak Urban Forest' Passes Central Investment Review... Natural-Friendly Park to Be Created by Next Year

Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, has passed the first hurdle of investment review for budget securing in the 'Seonhak Urban Forest' project, which aims to create a nature-friendly park in Seonhak-dong.

The district announced on the 18th that the project, with a total budget of 64.4 billion KRW, has passed the Central Investment Review for Local Finance by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, giving momentum to the project’s promotion.

This project involves creating a healing space in the city where urban life and nature coexist on an 82,649㎡ site in Seonhak-dong. It will include walking trails, urban gardens, a garden education center, and a large lawn plaza as a multipurpose event space.

With the investment review passed, the district plans to proceed with administrative procedures such as establishing a development restriction zone management plan and deciding on urban management plans, aiming to fully promote and complete the project by next year.

Seonhak Urban Forest [Provided by Yeonsu-gu, Incheon]

The project site is the last undeveloped area remaining in the old downtown of Yeonsu-gu, serving as a connection between Munhak Mountain and Seunggi Stream.

In particular, this area had long been neglected, leading to widespread unauthorized cultivation and storage of goods, causing controversy over damage to the development restriction zone in the area. Consequently, there were criticisms that the green space function was difficult to fully realize, and strong calls for creating a park for the residents of Seonhak-dong, who live in a poor environment with less than half the park area per capita compared to Yeonsu-gu overall.

The district also plans to add public facilities such as the Seonhak-dong government office and social welfare facilities near the site by 2026.

A Yeonsu-gu official said, "Passing the central investment review is the most important first step for creating the Seonhak Urban Forest," and added, "We will promptly proceed with the remaining administrative procedures to create a park that represents Yeonsu-gu."