[Interview] Yuseonghun, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, Opens a New Path to Sustainable Development as a 'Green City Geumcheon' Enhancing Quality of Life

Creating a 'Green City Geumcheon' Where Everyone Can Enjoy Parks Nearby
Focusing on Expanding Green SOC, Climate-Responsive Green City, and Green Welfare

"We will create a 'Green City Geumcheon' where everyone can enjoy parks nearby to respond to the climate crisis and improve residents' quality of life and the urban environment."

In an interview with this publication, Yuseonghun, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, stated, "Geumcheon-gu is establishing its status as the green gateway city of southwestern Seoul by expanding 'Green SOC,' developing a climate-responsive green city, and promoting green welfare to create a blue future city that coexists with nature."

Geumcheon-gu has a rich natural environment with Hoamsan Mountain rising to the east and Anyangcheon Stream flowing to the west, but since industrialization and urbanization began in the 1960s, it has developed an image as a gray city.

Mayor Yoo said, "We are promoting the expansion of 'Green SOC' to evenly distribute green spaces within the region and increase urban green capacity," adding, "We have expanded park green space by 163,343 square meters by creating Siheung Valley Omi Ecological Park, Hoamsan Forest Trail, and others, resulting in about a 30% increase in living area parks that residents can feel directly."

The 'Omi Ecological Park Creation Project' is a project to create an ecological park in Siheung Valley (around San 77-1, Siheung 5-dong) that is 2.7 times the size of a soccer field, where visitors can experience the five beauties (Omi, 五美) of forest, flowers, soil, people, and water all in one place. Scheduled to open at the end of this year, it offers facilities such as Baekinbaekhyanggiwon with 100 people and 100 kinds of fragrances, a 100-meter-long loess barefoot walking path, a water mouth resting area where two streams merge, a rose garden, a garden healing center, and a fitness center.

Geumcheon-gu is also focusing on creating 'barrier-free forest trails' so that all residents, including socially vulnerable groups, can enjoy the forest. A total of 4.9 km of barrier-free forest trails have been created around Hoamsan Mountain, Gamrocheon Ecological Park, and Samgak Park, and next year, an additional approximately 780-meter forest trail connecting the Seoul Dulle-gil and Hoamsan Mountain will be created. Mayor Yoo said, "We aim to create a themed garden path that connects Hoamsan Mountain, G-Valley, and Anyangcheon Stream into a circular walking course."

Recently, the old waterfall park was renovated into a landmark befitting the gateway area of southwestern Seoul, and parks such as G-Valley Garden Factory and Gasan-dong Living Park are being developed to prevent park exclusion areas.

Geumcheon-gu is implementing various policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gases and achieving sustainable development to move toward a 'climate-responsive green city.'

Mayor Yoo emphasized the importance of climate response policies, saying, "The climate crisis clock at the Geumcheon Eco Energy Center warns that there is less than five years left to prevent global warming." Opened in April, the Geumcheon Eco Energy Center is a hub space that spreads a culture of carbon neutrality in daily life through training energy consultants and expanding the use of renewable energy.

To take the lead in carbon neutrality in the public sector, Geumcheon-gu introduced a greenhouse gas reduction recognition budget system that increases budget allocation for projects expected to reduce greenhouse gases. Additionally, to encourage participation in the private sector, the district operates a green incentive system that relaxes building standards for green-certified buildings and a green mileage system that returns carbon neutrality achievements as local gift certificates.

Efforts are also being made to create urban forests to respond to climate change. Creating forests around areas with fine dust emissions can block the inflow of fine dust into residents' living areas. Since 2021, Geumcheon-gu has created 4.8 hectares of urban forest around G-Valley and Anyangcheon Stream, and by the end of this year, an additional 1.5 hectares of forest will be created around Geumcheon-gu Office Station and the Seobu Arterial Road area.

Mayor Yoo expressed a strong will to realize 'green welfare,' saying, "The benefits of nature and social benefits gained through the process of preserving and restoring the environment should be distributed evenly to all residents."

Geumcheon-gu operates various programs such as infant forest experience facilities and Hoamsan Forest Prenatal Classes so that anyone can experience forests and parks regardless of gender, age, or disability. Recently, a pilot project using drone technology to thoroughly patrol blind spots in parks and hiking trails has been introduced to create a safe park environment.

Mayor Yoo said, "Parks serve as important infrastructure that can create various industries and jobs beyond simple resting spaces," adding that social benefits can also be gained through park creation. The creation of parks requires experts in various fields from design to construction, and even after creation, it generates direct and indirect jobs such as facility maintenance personnel and program instructors. Well-developed parks can become tourist attractions, and as more visitors come to the parks, the local economy is revitalized through surrounding commercial districts, restaurants, cafes, and accommodations.

Finally, Yuseonghun, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, concluded the interview by saying, "We are conducting the Geumcheon Green City Basic Plan project to present a comprehensive implementation plan for 'Green City Geumcheon' and to analyze and reflect the current status of humanities, society, and nature in our district in the basic plan," adding, "We will create a vibrant 'Blue Future City Geumcheon' by harmoniously linking Gwanaksan Mountain, Anyangcheon Stream, parks, and street greenery."