Over the past five years (2012-2016), 197 new green spaces have been created in downtown Seoul. The total area amounts to 1,880,000㎡, which is eight times the size of Yeouido Park (230,000㎡) and 142 times the size of Seoul Plaza (13,207㎡). At present, Seoul has a total of 2,278 green spaces (146.22㎢), which accounts to approximately a quarter of the city’s total area (605.25㎢).

Building large parks → Utilizing industrial heritage and regenerating underused space
The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) expanded parks and green spaces in Seoul by implementing a new parks and forests formation method of discovering and regenerating industrial heritage, underused space, and other spare space. It used to be that local governments built medium-to-large size parks such as Yeouido Park (1999, 230,000㎡), World Cup Park (2002; 2,300,000㎡), and Seoul Forest (2005, 430,000㎡). Recent projects, however, utilize and regenerate spare land and incorporate private sector participation to expand the size of parks and green spaces. Using this method, the SMG has increased the number of parks located within 10 minutes of walking distance from residential areas and implemented various measures to reduce green service exclusion areas.

Opening of three urban regeneration parks and three green passageways
Three urban generation parks built on industrial heritages will open to the public in 2017. The first park, ‘Seoullo 7017,’ the first overpass park in the country, is set to have its official opening on May 20, 2017.
The ‘Culture Depot Base’ is a park being built inside Mapo Oil Depot, which was built in the 70s, that will open during the first half of 2017 to house performance and exhibition halls.
During the second half of 2017, ‘Gyeongchun Line (Railroad) Forest,’ a 6.3㎞ long large linear park formed on a discontinued railroad, will be in full operation.
In addition, three ‘green passageways’ will open to connect or reuse disconnected or deserted green land in 2017. The SMG plans to systematically build seven passageways by 2019.

Opening of ‘Choansan Family Camping Site’ and ‘Youth Forest’ in May 2017
A number of camping sites will open in downtown Seoul in 2017. Family Camping Sites are interactive parks built on deserted green land. The Choansan Family Camping Site will open in Choansan Mountain, Nowon-gu in May 2017 with an outdoor spa and pool. The Youth Forest will open in Buramsan Mountain as a space for teenagers to learn about safety and relieve their stress from studying.

Opening of ‘Choansan Family Camping Site’ and ‘Youth Forest’ in May 2017

▲ Jungnang Family Camping Site	▲ Jungnang Youth Forest
▲ Children’s Forest Facility	▲ Seoullo 7017 Flower Festival (Photo example)

< Image of Gyeongchun Line (Railroad) Forest >

▲ Gyeongchun Line (Railroad) Forest (Gyeongchun Line Zone 1 Gongneung-dong section)

▲ Gyeongchun Line (Railroad) Forest (Gyeongchun Line Zone 1 Gongneung-dong section)

< Image of Re-connecting Green Networks Project >

▲ Aerial View of Muakjae Green Passageway 1

▲ Aerial View of Muakjae Green Passageway 2 (Passageway for both humans and animals)

< Image of Youth Forest >

▲ Forest Together (Low Ropes Course, Teenagers doing the ‘Mohawk Walk’)

▲ Culture Depot Base

Culture Depot Base

▲ Image of Open Forest Park at Seoul Botanic Park	▲ Waterside road by Seoul Botanic Park
▲ Storage Pocket of the Wetland Eco Center at Seoul Botanic Park	▲ Garden of Rest and Healing at Seoul Botanic Park