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Chuncheon City in Gangwon Province (Mayor Yuk Donghan) is taking on the challenge of applying for the Urban Regeneration Regional Specialization Project, focusing on the Gangchon-ri area, and is gathering feedback from local residents.
Chuncheon City will hold a public hearing on March 4 at the chapel of Songgok University to establish the "Namsan-myeon Gangchon-ri Urban Regeneration Revitalization Plan (Draft)." This public hearing is being organized ahead of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s Urban Regeneration Regional Specialization Project competition, and serves as a formal procedure to collect opinions from citizens and relevant experts. The event will include an explanation of the draft revitalization plan, a panel discussion by experts, and a Q&A session with citizens.
Gangchon was once celebrated as a symbol of youth culture, but due to changes in transportation infrastructure and other factors, the population has decreased, the number of aging buildings has increased, and vacancies in commercial facilities have expanded, leading to a decline in local vitality. In response, the city has established the basic direction to create a "garden-style stay-type tourist destination combining emotion, ecology, and culture." Planned projects include: establishing the Imagination Garden Station and Imagination Square; creating a garden playground for children’s ecological experiences and an ecological garden along the Gangchon Stream; and turning Gangchon-ro into a garden street and a nighttime scenic attraction.
The city also plans to establish symbolic anchor spaces in Gangchon and introduce pedestrian-friendly streets and street gardens along Gangchon-ro, transforming it into a walkable area. Through these efforts, the city aims to increase the length of visitor stays and naturally connect the local commercial district with the surrounding natural environment.
Previously, in 2024, Chuncheon City designated the Gangchon-ri area as an urban regeneration revitalization zone and has been devising a cooperative regeneration model based on collaboration among local assets, the university, and residents.
Cho Hyunhee, Director of the Urban Regeneration Division, stated, "Through this public hearing, we will gather a variety of voices from citizens and experts to help Gangchon regain its vibrancy and become a lively region once again."
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