President Lee Myung-bak |
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
South Korea plans to renovate the street between Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul and the Han River, which stretches about seven kilometers, and build culture facilities there to turn it into a symbol of ``green growth,'' officials said, Monday.
The refurbishment is a part of the country's plan to build a greener Korea, through which it aims to attract more foreign tourists and investors, according to the presidential council on construction policies.
The council proposed the idea and other green-growth plans in its first report to President Lee Myung-bak at Cheong Wa Dae.
``Along the section between Gyeongbok Palace and the Han River, we will construct museums, theaters, leisure facilities and houses with new design concepts,'' a presidential spokesman said. ``We plan to develop the area into a `Mecca' of culture and the symbol of green growth that will help improve Korea's global image.''
Under the New Housing Plan, the administration will also embark on projects to improve the design of buildings in the capital in cooperation with the Seoul city government.
It will also overhaul existing facilities around the country's four major rivers and build parks as part of a plan to refurbish the waterways, the council said.
The administration is considering creating a fund to attract investment from the private sector in the development of energy-saving and green-growth technology under the ``Green New Deal'' project.
The government has formed a joint committee with major business associations and conglomerates to strengthen communication with industries on creating policies on green growth.
The panel includes major business lobbies ― such as the Federation of Korean Industries and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry ― and government officials developing environment and energy policies.
A number of leading companies, including Samsung Electronics, POSCO, SK Energy and Hyundai Motor, will also participate on the committee.
jj@koreatimes.co.kr
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