IFEZ Journal

Cheongna Creates an Urban Forest and Theme Park Happy City Made by Citizens

Seo-gu, Incheon, is promoting the Climate-Responsive Urban Forest creation project in Cheongna International City.

This year, the planned forest will be created on an area the size of nine soccer fields to reduce pollutants like fine dust.

In addition, the parks of Cheongna International City will be renovated under various new themes for the convenience of citizens.

A Nature-Friendly City Made of Urban Forests

Seo-gu, Incheon, started the Climate-Responsive Urban Forest project last year. With a budget of KRW 6 billion, this project will create 8 hectares of forest in the Simgokcheon green area (Cheongna No. 16 scenic greenbelts; 101-14 Cheongna-dong) and Seoknam Ieum Forest (222-4 Seoknam-dong). As a green rest area that blocks the inflow of fine dust from nearby industrial complexes and roads, this forest comprises various themed roads, such as for cypress, metasequoia, and Chinese fringe trees.

The project will continue throughout the year, with the urban forest to be created in Cheongna scenic greenbelts (No. 14 and 15) and buffer greenbelts (No. 4, 5, 6, and 7) with a budget of KRW 10 billion, including KRW 3 billion from the government. The total area is about 6.4 hectares, which is equivalent to the size of nine soccer fields. One tree in an urban forest absorbs 35.7 g of fine dust annually and removes 168 kg of pollutants per hectare. Once completed, the Climate-Responsive Urban Forest is expected to remove 1,075 kg in pollutants annually. Urban forests also reduce the heat island effect in which temperatures rise in urban centers. Kang Beom-seok, head of Seo-gu Office, said, “The forest-creation project is an important pledge of the 8th civil election. We will do our best to improve the residential environment for inhabitants.”

Climate-Responsive Urban Forest (2023)

Location

Cheongna scenic greenbelts No. 14 and 15 / Cheongna buffer greenbelts No. 4, 5, 6, and 7

Area

6.4 hectares

Budget

KRW 10 billion

Expected Effect

Removal of 1,075 kg of pollutants per year

Seoknam Ieum Forest

Cheongna Park, Reborn as a Healing Space

Meanwhile, the parks of Cheongna International City are being renovated into healing spaces with various themes. IFEZ will install media façades and optical fiber lighting for the luminous landscape in the 1.1-km section of Changhae and Nokcheong Cultural Parks that connect to Cheongna Canal Way. At the bottom and entrance of the pier of Cheongna Ruby-ro in Changhae Nokcheong Cultural Park, media façades with the theme of “Cheongna, the Happiness I Live in” and “Cheongna, the Village of Blue Jewels” are operated for 30 minutes at 9 and 10 p.m. daily.

The Wave of the Universe sculpture, located near the Cheongna 2-dong Administrative Welfare Center, provides shows of constellations in the night sky, snowflakes, and scenery of the blue sea. Along Canal Way, you can admire the colorful, glittering jewels, flower petals, and fish lights swimming in the waterways. Operating hours are from sunset to 10 p.m. In addition, IFEZ planted hydrangeas, flowers, and trees in the island theme park for the Cheongna Lake Park Ecological Festival, presenting beautiful sights for citizens. The reorganization of the Healing Health Track in Cheongna Lake Park has further improved the convenience of residents.