Mayor Park Hyeong-deok's Urban Innovation Project
"Transforming Dongducheon with the Soyosan Expansion Development"
Dongducheon Accelerates Efforts to Increase Living Population and Attract Large-Scale Tourists
Dongducheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, located at the northernmost tip of the Seoul metropolitan area. For a long time, Dongducheon-si, limited by its status as a border area, had not received much attention. Now, a new wave of change is blowing through the city. The goal is to transform Soyosan and its surrounding areas, which were previously limited to hiking and walking, into a comprehensive recreational space that families can enjoy together, significantly expanding the resident population. The strategy also includes attracting large-scale tourists to revitalize the stagnant local economy and establish sustainable growth momentum. At the center of this is Soyosan, a jewel embraced by nature, and Mayor Park Hyeong-deok of Dongducheon-si, who tirelessly plans and executes to turn this potential into reality.
Mayor Park Hyeong-deok is visiting the site designated for the park golf course development. Provided by Dongducheon City
According to Dongducheon-si on the 9th, the 'Soyosan Expansion Development Project,' personally led by Mayor Park, is more than just a tourism development; it is a challenge to redefine Dongducheon's identity and the strongest core task of the 8th local government administration.
Mayor Park has set a goal for the fruition of the Soyosan Expansion Development Project by establishing a total of 24 detailed projects and short-, mid-, and long-term implementation strategies. Currently, Dongducheon-si holds quarterly progress report meetings chaired by Mayor Park, where the progress of each project is reviewed, and issues and solutions are discussed. Additionally, an interdepartmental cooperation system has been established to ensure continuous communication among the nine departments involved in the expansion development project.
The Soyosan Expansion Development Project is a key pledge of the 8th local government administration. To systematically promote the project, Dongducheon-si conducted the 'Soyosan Expansion Development Project Advancement Plan and Basic Plan Establishment Service' in 2023, surveying approximately 500,000㎡ of the Soyosan area and analyzing development conditions. Based on the development concept presented through this service, by 2029, Soyonaeum Park, featuring memorial and resting spaces, will be created around the Freedom Protection Peace Museum area. The area from the entrance of the Soyosan tourist site to the Soyoyuwonji site will see the establishment of themed commercial buildings, river restoration and waterfront parks, accommodation facilities, walking trails, and mountain temples cafes.
Meanwhile, concrete results of the Soyosan Expansion Development Project are also emerging. According to Dongducheon-si, in 2024, convenience facilities around the Gyeonggi Northern Children's Museum were developed, including road construction and parking lot improvements, and 229 parking spaces were created through the Soyosan tourist site parking lot installation project.
Additionally, the Camp Soyoin Gyeonggi creation project was promoted, establishing parks such as walking trails and infrastructure for the amusement area. Furthermore, the Ministry of National Defense land acquisition project within the cultural park is being rapidly advanced, with four detailed projects of the Soyosan expansion development already completed.
Dongducheon-si is concentrating all administrative efforts on attracting an international skating rink.
In February last year, Dongducheon-si was the first to enter the competition for a replacement facility for the Taereung International Skating Rink, hosted by the Korean Sports Council, and has been actively promoting its bid. It is particularly emphasizing several strengths that differentiate it from other local governments: securing a site larger than the required 50,000㎡ with 89,000㎡, excellent transportation accessibility via Subway Line 1 and GTX-C line, a clean area free of fine dust with pristine natural surroundings, and the legitimacy of government-led development of the returned land promised by the government in 2015.
Mayor Park Hyeong-deok stated, "The site proposed for the international skating rink is the North Castle returned land, which holds significant symbolic meaning as a sacrifice for national security. Moreover, soil purification and urban planning facility change procedures have all been completed, making construction possible at any time." He added, "Dongducheon, a city with over 40 years of ice sports history and the only local government operating an ice sports team among the applicants, will definitely attract the international skating rink."
Also drawing attention is the park golf course construction project, promoted by Dongducheon-si to maximize sports leisure enjoyment spaces. By 2027, an 18-hole park golf course covering 15,500㎡ will be built in Dongducheondong 40, and by 2029, a 36-hole park golf course is planned. The city intends to actively secure national and provincial budgets through public contests. Once operational, the park golf course is expected to become a representative space for health promotion and leisure activities for residents aged 65 and older. Additionally, hosting various sports competitions and events is anticipated to positively impact the surrounding commercial districts and local economy.
The pet theme park construction project is also progressing smoothly.
This project is a key pledge of Mayor Park Hyeong-deok's 8th local government administration and achieved a great success by being selected in the public contest for the Northern Gyeonggi Pet Theme Park hosted by Gyeonggi Province last September. With a total budget of 25 billion KRW, including 7.5 billion KRW from provincial funds, the project is being promoted with a target completion date of 2028.
The Dongducheon Pet Theme Park, under the theme 'Soyo·Animal Forest,' will be constructed on approximately 62,000㎡ in Sangbongam-dong San 13. Major facilities will include a pet culture center, playground, walking trails, and camping grounds, creating a leisure space where both pet owners and non-pet owners can enjoy together.
The azalea hill construction project within the nationally popular Soyobyul and Forest Theme Park also draws attention. Dongducheon-si is creating the azalea hill from January to the end of this year to provide visitors to the Soyosan amusement area with year-round attractions. The project, with a total investment of 1.8 billion KRW from provincial and city funds, will establish an approximately 15,000㎡ azalea colony, creating a symbolic space and various photo zones to maximize visitor experiences beyond simple flower viewing. Upon completion, the azalea hill is expected to significantly contribute to Dongducheon's development by increasing tourists visiting Soyosan and Soyobyul and Forest Theme Park and creating jobs.
In addition, projects such as the Soyosan Sports Park construction on approximately 320,000㎡ in Sangbongam-dong San 6, the Dongmakgol Forest Camping Ground construction on about 50,000㎡ in Habongam-dong San 39-1, a large bus parking lot on abandoned railway land, and urban planning road construction around North Castle are being promoted simultaneously.
Mayor Park Hyeong-deok stated that through the Soyosan Expansion Development Project, he aims to realize the city administration slogan, "Renew Dongducheon, Empower the Citizens!" He added, "Once all 20 detailed projects with clear themes and distinctiveness are completed, Dongducheon-si's rosy future will unfold, and it will leap forward as the best tourist city in the metropolitan area."
Furthermore, it is expected that not only the resident population but also the living population, which stays and enhances the practical vitality of the region, will increase significantly. Dongducheon already has a large number of living populations visiting for commuting, schooling, tourism, and business purposes, in addition to the resident population registered in the resident registration system. There is also a significant number of foreigners who have reported residence in Korea under the Immigration Control Act or the Overseas Koreans Act. This reflects the area's characteristics, which include U.S. military bases, Shinhan University, and Dongyang University. In conclusion, the Soyosan Expansion Development will realize the values of 'growth, happiness, and hope,' transforming Dongducheon into a vibrant and attractive city.
Mayor Park Hyeong-deok of Dongducheon-si emphasized, "The Soyosan Expansion Development Project is not just a simple tourism development but an important opportunity to open Dongducheon's future. Through unprecedented large-scale development, we will build a new image of Dongducheon and realize long-term regional economic revitalization and citizen happiness."
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