A City Where Residents Want to Stay: Geochang County's Green City Strategy

Full-Scale Promotion of Urban Wind Path Forest,
Climate Response Urban Forest,
and Gimcheon District Urban Regeneration

Geochang County in South Gyeongsang Province is accelerating urban space innovation to create a "city where residents want to stay" in the era of climate crisis. The county has prioritized resident safety and the improvement of living conditions, and is actively promoting key projects such as the "Urban Wind Path Forest," "Climate Response Urban Forest," and the "Gimcheon District Urban Regeneration Project."

In particular, by combining comprehensive climate adaptation measures such as pre-inspections of disaster-prone areas and the dissemination of smart farming technologies, the county aims to achieve "comprehensive innovation of the residential environment" that goes beyond simple environmental improvements to genuinely enhance the quality of life for its residents.

Geochang County Climate Response Urban Forest. (Geochang Complex Garage Aerial View)

◆ 15 billion won invested in Urban Wind Path Forest and more, establishing a green artery to lower city temperatures

The "Urban Wind Path Forest Creation Project," currently being pursued by Geochang County with a total budget of 15 billion won, is a key green infrastructure project designed to lower temperatures and reduce fine dust throughout the city.

The project consists of an 18-kilometer roadside forest connecting Geongyejeong, the entrance road to Geoyeolsanseong Fortress, Namha-myeon, and Changpowon; a 5-kilometer riverside forest along Wicheon and Hwanggang; and the Didim and Diffusion Forests in Changpowon.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026 and be completed by 2028. Once finished, the "natural wind path" will allow cool air generated from surrounding forests to flow into the city, helping to mitigate heat waves and tropical nights. This is expected to deliver tangible environmental improvements that residents can feel.

◆ 5 billion won secured for Climate Response Urban Forest, full-scale effort to block fine dust

Geochang County was selected for the Korea Forest Service's 2024 "Climate Response Urban Forest Creation Project," securing a project budget of 5 billion won. The target sites are the Geochang Complex Garage and the area around the Second Changpowon, where a total of 5 hectares of fine dust-blocking and carbon storage forests will be established.

Phased construction will begin in 2025 and continue through 2026, with green spaces concentrated in areas adjacent to sources of fine dust such as highways and the complex garage to maximize environmental improvement effects. Upon completion, the project is expected to resolve the shortage of green spaces in the Geochang-eup living area and provide residents with new spaces for relaxation.

◆ Revitalizing the old city center through Gimcheon District Urban Regeneration, realizing the "Compact Green City"

The county is also creating new hubs of daily life to revitalize aging urban areas by securing project funding through public competitions. The Gimcheon District Urban Regeneration Project, which was selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's 2024 "Revitalize Our Neighborhood" competition with a total budget of 8.3 billion won, aims to improve the living environment in the Gangnam residential area of Geochang-eup. The project area covers the Gimcheon-ri area in Geochang-eup and will include the renovation of old houses and alleys, installation of CCTV and security lights, enhancement of residential safety, and the creation of small parks and other living social overhead capital (SOC) facilities.

The key facility, the Iron Community Center (700 square meters), will serve as a shared space for resident care, culture, and communication. Following a design competition in 2025, the community center will be built by 2028 alongside alley and housing renovations, and will be linked with the local Vitality Town and Medical Welfare Town, revitalizing the entire Gangnam area of Geochang-eup.

Geochang-gun Urban Wind Path Forest Creation Project.

◆ In addition to existing resident-focused projects such as roundabouts and parking lots, Geochang County is organically connecting these large-scale green and regeneration projects to complete the "Compact Green City Model."

A county official stated, "Responding to the climate crisis is no longer a choice, but an essential condition for protecting the daily lives of our residents," adding, "We will organically connect green infrastructure expansion and urban regeneration projects to build a sustainable urban environment that residents can truly experience."

Meanwhile, Geochang County plans to proactively respond to the climate crisis and pursue sustainable development through the expansion of green infrastructure and urban regeneration. These efforts are expected to go beyond simple urban environmental improvements and lead to tangible enhancements in the quality of life that residents can truly feel.