Yongsan Park near presidential office to be open for trial from the 10th

▲ This photo, shows the area that is going to be opened for trial in the Yongsan Park site near the presidential office. (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, provided by The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, shows the leaflet of the trial opening of the Yongsan Park. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- The Yongsan Park site near the presidential office will be open as trial to the general public for ten days from the 11th till the 19th of this month after completing the expansion of convenience facilities.

Allowing 500 people 5 times a day, it will receive 2,500 visitors per day, and some of them will be able to visit the front yard of the presidential office.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 2nd that it will be opening a part of the Yongsan Park site as a trial to reflect the public opinion in the process of building Yongsan Park in Seoul.

While the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 25th of last month that it would open for trial, it got abruptly canceled. To this, an official from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport explained, "In order to meet the anticipation of the public towards Yongsan Park opening for the first time in 120 years, we have expanded and supplemented convenience facilities including shade screens, benches, food and beverages to welcome the public."

The straight-line section of about 1.1km from the southern side of the presidential office to the "Sports Field" area on the northern side of the National Museum of Korea, an area returned by the United States Forces Korea, was the area targeted for the trial opening.

There are two entrances to the park, including the entrance to the residence of the United States Force Korea and the north entrance to the National museum of Korea.

The trial opening will be open from 9 a.m. till 7 p.m. from the 10th till the 19th for ten days. It will be divided into five sessions a day and plans to receive 500 visitors per session. There will be an interval of 2 hours per sessions.

However, the first entry has been decided to be at 11 a.m. on the 10th, while the last entry will be at 1 p.m. on the 19th (exit at 3 p.m.).

Citizens entering the park will be able to tour the area for two hours. It is expected that 25,000 people will be able to experience the Yongsan Park in advance during the trial period.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to provide detailed explanations and exhibitions to citizens who enter the park, allowing them to walk along the main trail and look around Yongsan park.

"We plan to install old photos and exhibits of Yongsan Base at key points, and arrange a commentator to explain the history and future of the Yongsan Park," said an official from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

On the 10th, the first day of the trial opening, various events including the opening of the gate and the performances by the military band will be held at the Shinyongsan Station to welcome the first visit of the public.

Benches will also be installed throughout the park so that visitors will be able to rest under the trees, allowing one to feel the exotic atmosphere at the general's residence area, the starting point of the park.

The southern part of the presidential office, where sycamores are lined up along the road with a panoramic view, will be operated as a "cafe street," an area where one will be able to rest along with food and beverage corners.

In particular, in the southern part of the presidential office, a program that allows one to see the front yard of the presidential office, which was moved from Cheong Wa Dae to Yong San will be held.

The tour participants will be decided on a first-come, first serve basis with a maximum of 40 people every 15 minute. One will be able to see the presidential security equipment, such as helicopters and special vehicles, displayed in the front yard of the presidential office.

Convenience facilities including food trucks, simple chairs, and toilets are also installed around the sports field and will be operated as a resting area. A 20-meter-long shade canopy will also be installed for the first time in Korea.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to collect the opinions of the public on the creation of Yongsan park by installing the "listening mailbox" throughout the event site during the trial period.

Six trains have been prepared for the convenience of transportation for the handicapped, and five on-site information booths and various information signs will be provided to support the convenience of the visitors.

Pets, alcoholic beverages and bottled beverages are not allowed. Reservations must be made by oneself.

Applications to visit Yongsan Park can be confirmed through three websites, namely (www.yongsanparkstory.kr, www.yongsanparkstory.com, www.yongsanparkstory.net) and through Naver reservations.

Reservations can be made from 2 p.m. on the 5th and can be reserved 5 days before the desired date of visit.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that, along with the trial opening, the open space of the officer's quarter district 5 in the southeast of Yongsan Park, which had already been opened in July 2020, will be expanded.

In addition to the existing open facilities, four additional buildings including a children's library, an indoor playground, an indoor resting area, and a multi-purpose room will be opened to the public in the officer's quarter district 5.

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Haemin Kim.)

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