Gwanaksan Natural Recreation Forest Project Accelerates with 14.1 Billion Won Investment, Aiming for 2027 Completion
Forest Infrastructure to Include Cabins, Welcome Garden, and Experience Facilities Linked to Hiking and Perimeter Trails...
Unique Forest Leisure Content to Enhance Existing "Forest Experience" Programs, Offering Activities Like Forest Bathing and Meditation
Gwanak District (headed by District Mayor Park Junhee) announced on May 13 that it has received the official designation notice for a "Natural Recreation Forest" from the Korea Forest Service, marking the first such designation in the southern region of Seoul.
With this designation, the district stands at the official starting line for the creation of the "Gwanaksan Natural Recreation Forest," a core infrastructure project for the district's healing and garden city brand focused on parks and leisure.
Gwanaksan is one of the "100 Great Mountains" selected by the Korea Forest Service and, as of 2023, was the most visited forest-type park by Seoul residents in a single year. In response to the recent rise in demand for forest leisure and recreation, the district plans to provide high-quality forest recreation services that utilize the natural environment of Gwanaksan.
The designated area covers nine parcels of land at San 117-24, Sillim-dong, within the Gwanaksan Urban Natural Park Zone, and will house recreation forest facilities spanning a total area of 216,333 square meters.
The district, currently conducting a basic planning study, will invest a total project budget of 14.1 billion won to officially begin the creation of the Gwanaksan Natural Recreation Forest. Detailed design will be carried out in the second half of this year, with project approval and groundbreaking scheduled for the first half of 2026, and completion targeted by 2027.
Previously, the Gwanaksan Natural Recreation Forest was selected as a priority project site in the "2023 Seoul Forest Leisure Revitalization Basic Plan," and the district is expected to secure a total of 10.7 billion won in city funding by 2026.
Subsequently, the district received a "suitable site" assessment for the planned recreation forest location through preliminary site surveys and feasibility studies. In February of this year, the district applied for the recreation forest designation, and with the recent official notice, has established the foundation for the creation of the Gwanaksan Natural Recreation Forest.
The Gwanaksan Natural Recreation Forest will feature a variety of forest experience infrastructure, including 27 rooms in forest cabins (accommodation facilities) connected to hiking trails and the perimeter trail within Gwanaksan, as well as a forest caf?, a welcome garden, forest experience facilities, and a visitor center.
In particular, the district will also offer unique forest leisure content that allows visitors to enjoy Gwanaksan's ecological resources and beautiful natural scenery, such as forest bathing, meditation in the woods, and Gwanaksan trekking, in addition to the existing "forest experience" programs already in operation.
District Mayor Park Junhee stated, "We have prepared for a long time so that residents can enjoy forest recreation services and experience healing in the city without having to travel far, by utilizing Gwanaksan's outstanding natural resources. We will develop the natural recreation forest, which will become a signature attraction of Gwanaksan, into a high-quality recreation complex where visitors can relax and heal from their busy daily lives."
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