Yongsan Park to reopen Friday for 10 days on trial basis

A road in Yongsan Park in Seoul. Courtesy of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

By Lee Kyung-min

A total of 25,000 people who make online reservations will be allowed a two-hour on-site tour of Yongsan Park, near the newly relocated presidential office, in the southwestern part of Yongsan Garrison, Seoul, which the U.S. returned to Korea last week. Reservations will be possible from Friday through June 19, in a partial resumption of an ill-prepared plan scrapped earlier due to environmental contamination concerns, the land ministry said, Friday.

The 1.1-kilometer tour connecting the south of the presidential office with the “Sports Field” is part of 51,000 square meters of land covering roads within the military base and areas nearby Gates 13 and 14 in Yongsan District, Seoul, which was returned from the U.S. Forces Korea on June 3.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport dismissed the ongoing controversy over the serious level of soil and groundwater contamination of the site, since visitors will be limited to areas cleared by the government for environmental safety and covered with artificial turf, thus having limited contact with contaminants.

“We will fully prepare safety measures for visitors,” said Kim Bok-hwan, the head of the ministry's Yongsan Park project, during a press tour of the park on June 7. “The 10-day trial opening of the park will help us gather public opinion before we fully open the park in September,” he added.

A guide gives reporters a tour at Yongsan Park, Seoul, June 7. Courtesy of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

The press tour was rescheduled about three weeks after the ministry postponed opening the park to the public, May 20, citing poor preparation.

But the abrupt cancellation ended up fanning concerns that the ministry is pushing forward with the opening solely because it was a major campaign pledge of President Yoon Suk-yeol.

Further undermining the pledge is the ministry's move to put up artificial turf and asphalt, a measure which, coupled with the two-hour access limit, essentially acknowledges the danger of exposure to the toxins.

Environmental groups have expressed concerns that opening the space to the public temporarily will interfere with plans to remove the contaminants in the future. Nearly a dozen carcinogenic toxins have been detected in the recently returned area.

A land ministry official gives an interview at Yongsan Park, Seoul, June 7. Courtesy of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

The opening hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. A total of five groups of 500 people per day will be able to choose their tour times online.

The first group will begin their tour at 9 a.m., followed by tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m.

Pets will not be allowed nor will alcohol consumption.

Visit reservations can be made at three government websites and the Naver web portal. Reservations should be made at least five days prior to the intended visit date.