Creation of a Peace, History, and Ecology Belt Linked to the Songaksan Area
"Project to Strengthen the Image of the Island of World Peace"
Plan map (draft) for the change of park plan for Mara Marine Provincial Park, including the Jeju Peace Grand Park development project. Provided by Jeju Province
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province is preparing for a new leap forward in the western region by establishing the ‘Peace History Ecological Belt’ connecting Songaksan and the Peace Grand Park.
Jeju Province has completed the ‘Mara Marine Provincial Park Plan Modification Study’ and has begun to devise measures to promote a balanced approach to nature conservation and regional development.
This study focused on expanding the provincial park, centering on the land (400,748 square meters) acquired to prevent reckless development and privatization of the landscape at Songaksan and to protect the assets of local residents. It also aims to establish an ecological connection axis with the Peace Grand Park around the Altteureu Airfield.
The expanded area of the provincial park (92,441 square meters) is planned to be designated as a natural environment zone where only minimal facilities are permitted, serving as a buffer for the existing nature conservation zone of the provincial park.
For visitor convenience, eco-friendly camping sites and parking lots will also be created.
To improve management efficiency of Mara Marine Provincial Park (49.785 square kilometers), a plan has been proposed to separately designate the current two mixed zones: the land area centered on Songaksan (0.58 square kilometers) and the marine area (49.175 square kilometers).
The ecological connection axis linking Songaksan and the Peace Grand Park includes registered cultural assets and key environmental resources such as the Coastal Artillery Battery and Setal Oreum Japanese Cave Fortifications. This axis will serve as an ecological and historical exploration trail with minimal human intervention.
The Peace Grand Park will be reborn as a symbolic space of Jeju’s history. Cultural heritage sites from the Japanese colonial period will be systematically preserved and maintained, and the park will be developed as a historical and cultural tourism destination that conveys Jeju’s modern and contemporary history to residents and visitors through connections with dark tourism.
The Peace Grand Park development project (690,000 square meters) will include the creation of a historical park with preservation and maintenance of cultural heritage sites such as the Peace Exhibition Hall, Peace Plaza, walking paths, landscaping facilities, and hangars, as outlined in the original ‘Jeju Peace Grand Park Basic Development Plan’. It will also incorporate long-awaited community projects to promote regional development.
Jeju Province plans to proceed with the project in stages after conducting a feasibility study for the Peace Grand Park development in 2025.
To improve welfare for residents in the western region and revitalize the local economy, the creation of a national sports center, training facilities (50,375 square meters), and a sports town (238,713 square meters) is also being considered.
Currently, Seogwipo City is unable to meet demand due to a shortage of facilities during the winter training season, making it urgent to secure sports facilities such as baseball fields and park golf courses.
Following the gold medal win by Jeju-born athlete Oh Yejin in the air pistol event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the construction of a shooting range that can also serve as a training center is under consideration.
The expansion of sports facilities is linked to Jeju Province’s strategy to foster itself as a sports mecca, and the attraction of training teams to the western region is expected to boost the local economy. Residents’ opinions to transform land forcibly seized during the Japanese colonial period into a driver for regional development have also served as a background for the project.
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