"Korea-ASEAN National Garden" Fails Pre-Feasibility Study... South Gyeongsang Province and Geoje City Consider Retrying

The "Korea-ASEAN National Garden" project, which was planned to be established in Geoje City, South Gyeongsang Province, failed to pass the preliminary feasibility study (pre-feasibility study) conducted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. As a result, South Gyeongsang Province and Geoje City announced on May 3 that they are reviewing whether to supplement the project and pursue it again.

A bird's-eye view of the Korea-ASEAN National Garden promoted by the Korea Forest Service and Geoje City. Photo by Geoje City

The project involves investing approximately 198.6 billion won to create a Korea-ASEAN themed garden, a peace garden, and an aquatic garden on a 400,000-square-meter reclaimed area in Dongbu-myeon, Geoje City. The initiative was first proposed at the Korea-ASEAN Special Summit held in Busan in 2019 and has since been actively pursued.

Geoje City, with its maritime subtropical climate, has been evaluated as a suitable location for the native growth of ASEAN flora and fauna, drawing attention as a potential site for the national garden. However, at the fourth Fiscal Project Evaluation Committee of the Ministry of Economy and Finance held on April 30, the project failed to pass the pre-feasibility study due to a lack of sufficient justification.

This failure follows last year's exclusion of the project from the pre-feasibility study list, after which the city reduced the project's area and budget and attempted to resubmit it. Some observers are now raising concerns that the project may be in jeopardy.

Nevertheless, Geoje City and South Gyeongsang Province remain committed to pursuing the project. Having made repeated efforts to persuade related ministries such as the Korea Forest Service, they plan to closely analyze the pre-feasibility study results and revise the project details for another attempt.

An official from Geoje City stated, "The specific results of the pre-feasibility study have not yet been confirmed," adding, "Once we receive the results, we will discuss the project direction again in consultation with the Korea Forest Service, South Gyeongsang Province, and other relevant parties." A South Gyeongsang Province official also said, "Aiming to create a national garden where ASEAN and people from around the world can come together, we will actively seek to relaunch the project in cooperation with related agencies."