Wonju City Mobilizes Efforts to Strengthen the Foundation for a Sustainable Environmental City

Designated as an Environmental Education City and Full Opening of Ch'iaksan Wind Path Forest
Accelerating Key Initiatives for Public Welfare, Carbon Neutrality, and Environmental Well-Being

Wonju City in Gangwon Province is intensifying its efforts to promote various environmental initiatives, aiming for public welfare, carbon neutrality, and environmental well-being in the era of climate crisis.

Panoramic view of Wonju City Hall. Provided by Wonju City.

Over the past year, the city has implemented a range of environmental policies to enhance the quality of life for residents and create a sustainable urban environment, achieving meaningful results. Through the operation of the Wonjucheon Dam, the city has established a stable foundation for water resource management, and by continuously carrying out river maintenance projects, it has worked to prevent disasters and improve waterfront spaces. Additionally, with the completion of the Min-gang Jungang Neighborhood Park (Section 2), the city has provided citizens with a high-quality space for rest and leisure, further elevating the quality of the urban environment.

Moreover, by opening the entire Ch'iaksan Wind Path Forest, which utilizes the site of the decommissioned Jungang Line railway, the city has alleviated the urban heat island effect and created a pleasant green corridor. Wonju was also the first in Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province to be designated as an Environmental Education City, establishing its status as a leader in environmental education.

Going forward, Wonju City plans to systematically implement projects in various sectors, focusing on environmental policies that citizens can truly experience.

First, to foster environmentally conscious citizens in response to the climate crisis, the city will operate environmental education programs for preschoolers, elementary school students, public institution employees, and civic groups, while continuing to support the Gangwon Region Fine Dust Research and Management Center. In addition, by operating the Climate Change Response Education and Research Center and the Climate Change Promotion Center, the city will work to spread awareness and encourage carbon-neutral practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Furthermore, based on the ecological and cultural value of Seonghwangnim and Seonghwangnim Village in Sillim-myeon, which have been designated as national eco-tourism areas, the city will operate ecological education programs that promote coexistence between nature and people. It also plans to repurpose underutilized closed school spaces within the region as ecological experiential education centers.

To promote a culture of resource circulation, the city will support the use of reusable containers at festival venues. Through the Wonjucheon Renaissance project, it will renovate walkways and bridges along Wonjucheon Stream to enhance citizens' leisure culture, and strengthen eco-friendly urban infrastructure by supporting city gas supply.

For vulnerable groups and regions affected by the climate crisis, the city will implement a heat-blocking paint project to realize practical environmental welfare policies. By redesigning volume-based waste bags, Wonju aims to improve public awareness of waste separation. In addition, for the livestock complex in Pyeongjang-ri, Socho-myeon, which has been designated as an odor management area for 2024, the city will conduct regular surveys and inspections to alleviate residents' discomfort with their living environment.

Wonju will also work to prevent and compensate for damages caused by wild animals, and improve citizen safety and sanitary conditions through systematic management of public and temporary restrooms.

The city will expand urban green spaces by creating the Bangok Neighborhood Park, covering 14,081 square meters in San 1-26, Bangok-dong, and ensure citizens' right to rest and movement during heat waves by planting large trees in urban areas. It will also develop a 5,328-square-meter Millennium Tree Theme Park at 777 Haenggu-dong, creating a unique green attraction that reflects the local character.

Additionally, the city will promote a carbon-reducing construction culture through a timber construction demonstration project (building a new indoor playground for children) and the establishment of a timber culture experience center using domestic timber. It will also strengthen the public functions of forests by operating the Forest Fire Prevention Headquarters, expanding afforestation and forest management projects, and broadening the scope of forest road infrastructure projects.

Wonju will ensure the stable operation and management of the Wonjucheon Dam to enhance flood control for the Wonjucheon Stream, and will implement national river maintenance projects. The city will continue disaster prevention projects for local and small rivers to proactively respond to natural disasters, and will systematically improve water quality by establishing a management plan for non-point pollution sources under the Total Water Pollution Load Management System.

By operating a rapid and stable collection and disposal system for municipal waste, the city will maintain a clean urban environment. In preparation for the direct landfill ban on municipal waste, which will take effect in 2030 following the revision of the Waste Management Act Enforcement Rules, Wonju is working to select a site for an incineration facility. The city will also systematically manage the private investment project for the comprehensive waste treatment complex to strengthen the foundation for mid- to long-term waste management.

An official from Wonju City stated, "We will pursue environmental policies that harmonize climate crisis response, citizen safety, and environmental welfare to create a sustainable environmental city that residents can truly experience."