Emphasizing Preservation and Transformation into a Multi-purpose Civic Space, Not Demolition of the Baseball Stadium
Hanbat Baseball Stadium, a place filled with memories for the citizens of Daejeon, will be reborn as a "complex cultural space" rather than being demolished.
On September 22, Lee Jangwoo, Mayor of Daejeon, instructed a careful review regarding the potential demolition of Hanbat Baseball Stadium, stating, "Instead of simply demolishing a space that holds the city's history and citizens' memories, we must create new value through regeneration and utilization."
He also suggested the possibility of transforming Hanbat Baseball Stadium and its surrounding areas into a large-scale, multi-purpose cultural space to host citizen festivals, performances, flea markets, and more.
During the weekly work meeting he presided over that day, Mayor Lee said, "Even a baseball stadium that has stood for more than 60 years holds the memories of citizens and embodies the city's sports culture and history. Rather than taking the approach of demolishing it just because it is old, we should first consider ways to coexist through preservation and utilization."
This is a directive to focus on space planning that emphasizes regeneration and utilization based on historical context, rather than destructive urban redevelopment.
In fact, the area between the outer part of Hanbat Baseball Stadium and the new stadium consists of open spaces and green areas, making it an ideal location for citizen-participatory events.
However, concerns remain about maintenance costs, such as potential damage to the grass, so measures such as adjusting the scale of events and implementing protective actions in advance will also be considered.
Mayor Lee emphasized, "Demolition and new construction are not the only solutions for public spaces. The real role of administration is to consider how to revitalize the spaces that remain. Since it is also important to utilize buildings with historical significance in Daejeon, we need to visit the sites in person and find the best solutions."
He also instructed the city to make every effort to ensure the stability of citizens' daily lives ahead of the Chuseok holiday.
Daejeon City will operate a specialized comprehensive task force during the Chuseok holiday period to minimize inconvenience to citizens and prevent safety accidents. Special inspections will be carried out in popular areas such as traditional markets, walking trails, and riversides, and road and bicycle path maintenance will be conducted in conjunction with the five district offices, including addressing issues such as sinkholes.
To minimize gaps in elderly care, the city will implement measures such as: conducting at least two safety (well-being) checks before and after the Chuseok holiday and providing special management for seniors at risk of solitary death; establishing an emergency response system in connection with emergency institutions and continuously monitoring the digital care system; and supporting tailored care services for seniors, including meal kits and sponsored lunch boxes, to ensure their health and safety.
Mayor Lee stated, "Every small space and policy in the city directly affects the lives of citizens. We must realize administration that citizens can truly feel in areas such as safety, convenience, culture, and urban development."
He added, "I hope you will approach your work with a sense of ownership, not overlooking even a single stretch of bicycle path or narrow road, and personally inspect the sites."
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