Seosan City Accelerates Creation of Chorok Square and Public Parking Lot... Passes Ministry of the Interior and Safety Review

Administrative Procedures Underway Aiming for 2025 Construction Start

Perspective view of the Green Plaza and public parking lot to be created on the temporary parking lot site next to Seosan Central Lake Park. / Seosan City

Seosan City in Chungnam is expected to gain momentum in its efforts to significantly expand green leisure spaces for citizens, as the Central Lake Park Green Plaza and Public Parking Lot project passed the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's "Local Finance Investment Review" on the 18th.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, when announcing the review results, attached two conditions: △ If the project cost exceeds 50 billion KRW, a feasibility study must be conducted in accordance with the Local Finance Act; and △ During the project implementation process, the city must collect and coordinate local residents' opinions and prepare measures to minimize civil complaints.

This project aims to create a Green Plaza?a green lawn area usable year-round?and a public parking lot with one underground and one above-ground level, accommodating about 450 vehicles, at 1255-1, 3 Yechon-dong and surrounding areas.

The total project cost is 46.3 billion KRW, which includes 18.9 billion KRW for the value of city-owned land and 27.4 billion KRW in actual construction and project expenses. The city plans to complete the remaining administrative procedures, such as detailed design, as soon as possible, break ground in the first half of 2025, and complete construction in the first half of 2026.

Notably, on September 3, Governor Kim Tae-heum visited the city and pledged to support 50% of the actual project cost of 27.4 billion KRW. As a result, the city's actual financial burden will decrease to around 17 billion KRW, significantly easing the city's fiscal pressure.

The city expects that, once completed, the project will expand the landmark Central Lake Park by providing a Green Plaza at the same elevation, accessible year-round, thus offering citizens more green leisure space.

Additionally, by securing a public parking lot with one underground and one above-ground level for about 450 vehicles, the city anticipates a significant improvement in urban accessibility for many citizens.

However, some civic groups and opposition parties are strongly opposing the project and appear poised to make it a political issue with the 2026 local elections in mind.

They argue that by simply renovating the existing parking lot, it would be possible to accommodate 445 vehicles, and that the city is wasting taxpayers' money without properly gathering citizens' opinions.

A Seosan City official stated, "We are pursuing the creation of the Green Plaza and public parking lot, which will not only serve as the lungs of the city but also resolve the chronic urban parking shortage and revitalize the local commercial district, achieving multiple benefits. We will continue to listen to citizens' opinions and do our best to transparently explain the necessity and progress of the project."