Table of Contents
- The First National Urban Park in Korea Begins at the Nakdong River Estuary
- Expert Advisory Meeting, Strengthening Cooperation with the Capital Region
- Increased Designation Possibility through Legal Amendment
- The Value of the Nakdong River Estuary and the Need for Designation
- Progress and Future Schedule
- Eulsukdo and Macdo, A Future Created Together by Citizens
- Conclusion: Busan's Leap as an Ecological and Cultural Convergence City
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The First National Urban Park in Korea Begins at the Nakdong River Estuary
The city of Busan has officially begun the process of designating the Nakdong River Estuary as the first national urban park in the country.
Through an expert advisory meeting held in Seoul on August 28, collaboration between academia and practitioners has intensified, and Busan shows its determination to gain an advantage in the competition for national urban park designation.
This discussion includes future plans to preserve and utilize the entire Nakdong River Estuary, including Eulsukdo in Saha District and Macdo Ecological Park in Gangseo District.
Expert Advisory Meeting, Strengthening Cooperation with the Capital Region
This meeting was attended by eight distinguished professors and experts in landscape and environmental fields from institutions such as Hankyong National University, Seoul National University, Sungkyunkwan University, and Kyunghee University, including Professor Ahn Seung-hong (Chairman of the Special Committee on National Urban Parks).
Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on designation criteria, detailed strategies, and future activation plans. In particular, they closely examined the possibilities for the Nakdong River Estuary to be designated as a national urban park and the execution strategies needed for that.
Cooperating with academia in the capital area is also of great significance as it enhances the credibility of policies and builds a nationwide support base.
Increased Designation Possibility through Legal Amendment
In August, a revised bill for the Park and Green Space Act passed the National Assembly, making the designation of national urban parks much easier.
Previously, the minimum area required was over 3 million square meters, but now it has been reduced to over 1 million square meters. Additionally, the process has been streamlined from deliberation by the State Council to deliberation by the National Urban Park Commission, enhancing efficiency.
The city of Busan plans to apply for national urban park designation in line with the implementation of this law, which is scheduled for the second half of 2026, aiming to achieve the title of the first in the country.
The Value of the Nakdong River Estuary and the Need for Designation
The Nakdong River Estuary is known as the largest migratory bird habitat in the country, forming a unique delta. This area hosts over 480 species of plants, which highlights its ecological, historical, and cultural value, requiring preservation at the national level.
In particular, it is closely related to the new government's national task of 'restoration of the Four Major Rivers and biodiversity recovery.' If designated as a national urban park, it is expected to serve not only as an expansion of urban green space but also as a symbolic role in responding to the climate crisis and conserving biodiversity.
Progress and Future Schedule
The designation of the Nakdong River Estuary as a national urban park has been gradually carried out through the continuous demands and discussions of civil society.
This process began in 1999 with a citizen group proposing a 'million pyeong park,' which led to the establishment of a citizens' council in 2001. In 2016, provisions for national urban parks were added to the Park and Green Space Act, and in 2021, a public-private consultative body was formed.
In 2024, the basic plan will be completed, and the urban management plan will be announced, with the development plan scheduled for 2025. The city of Busan plans to submit an official application for national urban park designation in the second half of 2026.
Eulsukdo and Macdo, A Future Created Together by Citizens
Eulsukdo in Saha District and Macdo Ecological Park in Gangseo District have been designated as candidates for designation, measuring 910,000 square meters and 2,370,000 square meters, respectively. These areas have become valuable resting places for citizens and are renowned for bird watching, functioning as important hubs where ecology, culture, and tourism converge.
Once designated as a national urban park, this area is expected to evolve into a sustainable model where nature conservation and citizen use harmoniously coexist, moving beyond the mere role of a protected area.
Conclusion: Busan's Leap as an Ecological and Cultural Convergence City
The designation of the Nakdong River Estuary as a national urban park is an important project that presents a model for ecological city development where humanity and nature live in harmony. Through this, Busan has a great potential to respond to climate change and protect biodiversity as a leading city.
If the Eulsukdo and Macdo Ecological Parks in Saha District and Gangseo District, as well as the entire Nakdong River Delta, are transitioned into a national preservation system, Busan is expected to gain a new status as the first city designated as a national urban park in the country. This change will become a significant milestone that brightens the future of Busan.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Why is Busan City trying to designate the Nakdong River Estuary as a national urban park?
The Nakdong River Estuary has high ecological and cultural value, necessitating national preservation and utilization.
The Nakdong River Estuary is the largest migratory bird habitat in the country and an ecologically important area with over 480 species of plants. Its unique delta geography and historical and cultural value are significant, aiming to make it a symbolic place for preservation at the national level, responding to the climate crisis and protecting biodiversity. It is particularly related to the new government's national task of restoring the Four Major Rivers, with a goal of establishing a sustainable urban park model.
Q. Are there any changes in the designation procedure and legal basis for national urban parks?
With the amendment of the Park and Green Space Act, the designation area criteria have been lowered, and the procedures have been simplified.
Recently, the amendment of the Park and Green Space Act has relaxed the minimum area for the designation of national urban parks from the previous 3 million square meters to over 1 million square meters. Furthermore, the procedure has been streamlined from deliberation by the State Council to deliberation by the National Urban Park Commission, making the application and designation process easier. The city of Busan plans to apply for national urban park designation for the Nakdong River Estuary in line with the law's implementation date in the second half of 2026, thus taking a step closer to its goal of being the first designated city in the country.
Q. What is the progress of the Nakdong River Estuary's national urban park initiative?
Since the 1999 citizen proposal, various discussions and planning stages have been undertaken in preparation for designation.
Initially, this process began with the 1999 citizen proposal for a 'million pyeong park,' followed by the formation of a citizens' council in 2001 and the establishment of provisions for national urban parks in the Park and Green Space Act in 2016. In 2021, a public-private consultative body was formed. The basic plan is set to be completed in 2024, with the urban management plan to be announced, and the development plan is scheduled to be announced in 2025. The city of Busan aims to officially apply for national urban park designation in the second half of 2026.
Q. What significance do Eulsukdo and Macdo Ecological Parks hold?
They serve as valuable resting areas for citizens and roles as migratory bird watching spots, functioning as ecological, cultural, and tourism hubs.
Eulsukdo (910,000 square meters) in Saha District and Macdo Ecological Park (2,370,000 square meters) in Gangseo District are important recreational spaces for citizens and are one of the largest migratory bird habitats in the country. These two areas are expected to develop into sustainable parks that harmoniously integrate nature conservation and citizen use, ultimately evolving into future-oriented parks where tourism and culture converge.
Q. What impact will the designation of the national urban park have on Busan?
It will leap forward as an ecological and cultural city taking the lead in responding to climate change and protecting biodiversity.
The designation of the Nakdong River Estuary as a national urban park goes beyond simple park creation; it signifies a model for an ecological city where humanity and nature coexist. This will enable Busan to establish itself as the first city designated as a national urban park in the country, laying the groundwork to grow into a leading city in response to climate crises and biodiversity conservation. It is considered a significant milestone that opens a harmonious future for local communities and natural ecosystems.