Gimhae City in South Gyeongsang Province is acquiring long-unused urban park sites on a large scale to develop them into ecological hubs within the city.
Ahead of the July 2020 implementation of the "sunset clause," the city invested 86.2 billion won starting in 2019 to purchase 550,000 square meters across eight park sites — Imho, Samsan, Bunsanseong, Namsan, Yeorae, Daecheong, Yuha, and Songjeong — accounting for 96% of the total area. Imho and Bunsanseong parks have been completed and are drawing positive response from residents, while Yeorae Park is currently under construction.
This year, the city will begin full-scale development of Samsan and Yuha parks. The 3-hectare Samsan Park in Gusan-dong will feature a "Didim Expansion Forest," funded by 1.3 billion won from a Korea Forest Service competitive grant program, with completion scheduled for October. The mountainous Yuha Park will be transformed into a healing space using 200 million won from the participatory budget program.
