Dongducheon Accelerates Urban Growth with 136.8 Billion Won in National and Provincial Funding
Ranked First in Gyeonggi Province Evaluation, Secures Additional 30 Billion Won for Balanced Development
From Culture to Transportation: Tangible Changes Felt by Dongducheon Citizens
Tourism as Dongducheon's Future: Building a Citywide Tourism Infrastructure
Dongducheon City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Park Hyungdeok) has secured 136.8 billion won in national and provincial government funding since the launch of the 8th popularly elected administration, despite ongoing fiscal challenges. The city is accelerating urban transformation and balanced development across all aspects of civic life, including culture, housing, tourism, and transportation.
According to Dongducheon City on August 6, the city is actively promoting projects to improve the living environment through the Special Situation Area Development Project. Major initiatives include Sori Ieum Madang (10 billion won in national funding), Sangpae Neighborhood Park (4.8 billion won in national funding), Our Village Residential Environment Improvement (2.4 billion won in national funding), and the Sincheon Riverside Space Project (2 billion won in national funding).
Additionally, through Gyeonggi Province's 3rd Regional Balanced Development Project, the city secured 33 billion won in provincial funding for the construction of the Songnae Multi-purpose Parking Center, laying the groundwork to alleviate parking shortages.
Sori Ieum Madang, currently under construction in the original downtown area of Saengyeon-dong, is a complex cultural space aimed at preserving traditional culture and revitalizing local culture. Out of the total project cost of 18 billion won, 10 billion won was secured from national funds. The facility will feature a performance hall, cultural and arts lecture rooms, and an intangible cultural heritage training space, offering citizens a variety of cultural experiences.
The Sangpae Neighborhood Park project, which involves relocating and reorganizing unclaimed graves to improve residential conditions, will receive 4.8 billion won in national funding out of a total budget of 6 billion won. The park will be transformed into a pleasant resting space with a hydrangea garden, forest shelter, and lawn yard.
The Our Village Residential Environment Improvement Project aims to create a safe living environment by demolishing vacant and abandoned houses. With a total budget of 3 billion won (including 2.4 billion won in national funding), the project will provide public parking lots, community gardens, and rest areas, thereby enhancing the urban landscape and residents' convenience.
The Sincheon Riverside Space Project will develop cultural and sports facilities on the left bank of the Donggwanggyo to Sangpaegyo section (1.2 km), expanding leisure spaces for citizens. Out of a total budget of 2.5 billion won, 2 billion won was secured from national funds.
The Songnae Multi-purpose Parking Center will be constructed as a six-story building, with 33 billion won in provincial funding out of a total project cost of 44 billion won. The first floor will house a tourist information center and play experience room as community-friendly spaces, while the second to sixth floors will provide a total of 396 parking spaces. The city expects this project to significantly alleviate parking shortages and revitalize the commercial district in the Jihaeng-dong area.
Dongducheon City is rapidly transitioning into a tourism city by developing distinctive tourism infrastructure throughout the city. In particular, the city is focusing on creating walking trails and leisure spaces that connect local natural resources such as Wangbang Valley, the Forest Welfare Complex, and Soyo Mountain.
The Wangbang Valley Forest Trail Project is developing a 3.6 km section from Tapdong Village Hall to Saemteo Farm, including riverside decks, flower gardens, and coconut mat forest trails. Out of a total project cost of 7.5 billion won, 6 billion won was secured from national funds.
The Wangbang Valley?Forest Welfare Complex Linkage Walking Road Project will create a 2 km stretch of deck roads, forest trails, and pedestrian bridges, providing a forest-type leisure space in harmony with nature. The project will invest a total of 4 billion won, including 3.2 billion won in national funding.
The city is also intensifying efforts to enhance tourism infrastructure in the Soyo Mountain area, a major local tourist destination. In 2023, the city completed the "Soyo Mountain Expansion Development Project Advancement Plan and Master Plan Study." As part of this, the Soyo Naeum Park Project was selected for Gyeonggi Province's 2024 Regional Balanced Development Project, securing 7 billion won in provincial funding. With a total budget of 9.4 billion won, the project will develop a 270,000 square meter area around the Freedom Protection Peace Museum, creating a Garden of Remembrance, lawn plaza, cafe, and waterfront space. The city expects this to provide a relaxing space for tourists and invigorate the local commercial district.
In addition to expanding tourism infrastructure, the city is restoring urban vitality and attracting new residents by creating sports and cultural spaces. Going forward, Dongducheon plans to continue balanced tourism development across the city by developing tourism resources tailored to the unique characteristics of each area.
Dongducheon City ranked first in Gyeonggi Province's 2nd Regional Balanced Development Project evaluation, securing an additional 30 billion won in performance-based funding. Based on this achievement, the city will actively promote four projects in the Soyo Mountain area: a park golf course, pedestrian environment improvement on Pyeonghwa-ro, Soyo Mountain Sports and Culture Street, and Soyo Mountain Lawn Culture Plaza.
The Park Golf Course Project is a key initiative to expand daily sports facilities. Given that more than 26% of the city's population is elderly, the project is expected to contribute to senior-friendly sports welfare. As a leisure space linked to tourism resources, it is also anticipated to boost the local economy.
Mayor Park Hyungdeok stated, "Despite the difficult circumstances of the past three years, including economic recession and declining tax revenue, we have done our utmost to uphold the highest priority of citizen happiness. We will continue to make every effort to secure national and provincial funding through various public contests and visits to central government agencies."
The city has laid the foundation for tangible urban transformation across all sectors, including culture, sports, housing, tourism, and transportation, by securing this round of national and provincial funding. Going forward, Dongducheon plans to focus all its capabilities on implementing resident-oriented policies and region-specific strategies to "renew Dongducheon and empower its citizens."
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