Eco-Friendly Living and Public Institution Collaboration
A ‘New Growth Axis’ Led by the Resident Community
"Beyond a decade of settlement, opening a new 20-year vision." The transformation surrounding Yulgok-dong is not just a story of a new city’s growth.
Residents, public institutions, and administration form a three-pronged axis, collectively rewriting the standard for a ‘sustainable city.’
Yulgok-dong in Gimcheon City, marking the 20th anniversary of attracting Innovation City and the 10th anniversary of public institution relocations, has officially declared its second leap forward by unveiling the future vision, ‘Yulgok-dong Soaring Anew.’
With a wide-area transportation network that includes KTX Gimcheon (Gumi) Station and Donggimcheon IC, Yulgok-dong was designed as a self-sufficient new city for over 26,000 residents. Over the past decade, the influx of young people and public institution employees has rapidly expanded its educational, cultural, and residential functions, establishing it as the new urban center of Gimcheon.
The most significant asset of Yulgok-dong is its nature-friendly spatial structure, where Seokseongcheon and Yulgokcheon streams cross the city center in an X shape.
Parks have been established throughout the city, and essential facilities such as Gimcheon Yulgok Public Library, Green Future Science Museum, Children’s Forest Playground, and Youth Theme Park are closely connected, steadily increasing residents’ satisfaction with their living environment.
The recent opening of the pet playground ‘Yulgok Puppy Playground’ and the upcoming completion of the National Sports Center in 2026 have further enhanced the diversity and convenience of local amenities.
Industrial and future-oriented infrastructure development is also accelerating. The state-of-the-art logistics complex Yulgok Center, completed as part of the Smart Green Logistics Regulation-Free Special Zone project, is a key pillar in expanding Yulgok-dong’s industrial landscape. In addition, future-oriented educational and safety infrastructure such as the National Land Safety Training Institute are being established, evolving the new city into a future growth platform with a triple structure of eco-friendliness, education, and logistics.
The expansion of resident-oriented services at the Administrative Welfare Center is also a driving force behind Yulgok-dong’s growth.
Following the opening of the Tool Library in 2019 and the Game Library in 2022, the ‘Smart Living Guide for Yulgok-dong II’ was newly produced in 2024 to systematically organize local information.
Welfare programs such as the Sharing Refrigerator, Shared Happiness Garden, free wheelchair rentals, and blanket laundry support are both detailed and practical. An official from the Administrative Welfare Center stated, “Administration that brings tangible changes to residents’ daily lives is the true source of urban competitiveness.”
The collaborative activities of public institutions in Yulgok-dong are also noteworthy. Korea Electric Power Technology led environmental cleanup efforts for Chuseok and invasive plant removal projects, while the Yeongnam Regional Headquarters of the National Land Safety Management Agency delivered care packages to 50 disadvantaged households.
The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency donated 17 boxes of 20kg salted cabbages and participated directly in kimchi-making volunteer work, strengthening ties with the local community.
The symbolic event, ‘2025 Yulgok Cultural Festival,’ celebrating the past 20 years of growth and preparing for the next 20 years, was also held with great success.
Programs included ‘I Am a Yulgok Star,’ where residents took the stage themselves, hands-on activities for all generations, and environmental, safety, and cultural programs, presenting a new model for community-based festivals.
In particular, the ‘Our Village Beautification Declaration Ceremony,’ with participation from all local organizations, was a symbolic moment showing how Yulgok-dong is preparing for the next decade.
An event that drew attention was the opening of a time capsule buried at the completion of Innovation City in 2016, reflecting on a decade of change. On this day, residents also conducted a street campaign for the ‘Gimcheon(LOVE) Address Initiative,’ working together to strengthen their sense of belonging to the city.
The residents’ voluntary participation remains Yulgok-dong’s greatest strength.
Flood prevention activities by the Voluntary Disaster Prevention Corps, laundry volunteer work by the Yellow Yulgok Red Cross Volunteers, and community programs such as healthcare, table tennis classes, orchestra performances, and barefoot walking organized by the Residents’ Council, all demonstrate that Yulgok-dong is evolving beyond a simple innovation city into a ‘resident-led city of the future.’
An official from Gimcheon City stated, “Yulgok-dong is a new city model of national caliber, created collaboratively by residents, public institutions, and administration. We will fully implement Innovation City Season 2 to further solidify Gimcheon’s future growth base.”
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