Siheung City, transforming itself from an industrial city into an eco-friendly city

Western part of Gyeonggi Province, hub of East Asia and locomotive of the ‘West Coast’ era!

◇ A scene from the Gyeonggi Garden Culture Expo, held in Okgu Park, Siheung in 2010. The facilities built for the expo are now being used as park facilities. ⓒ G-LIFE Editing Team

Hojobeol, a broad plain that has witnessed the city’s long history!
Beyond the Mulwang Tollgate of the Third Gyeongin Expressway, you will find a wide open field, Hojobeol, which is actually a stretch of reclaimed land covering 495ha. It was originally formed to grow rice and thereby raise funds for the operation of the government, as well as to provide food for needy people, in 1721, during the reign of King Gyeongjong of the Joseon Dynasty. Efforts are now being made to transform the area into an eco-friendly attraction amid rising awareness of the importance of the environment. Hojo Cofferdam was restored and a ‘swamp plant botanical garden’ and an ecology park were formed under this initiative. Haetomi, a rice brand grown in the area, is recognized for its good quality.

Gwangokji Pond, situated close to Hojobeol Field, is the place where a certain Mr. Gang Hui-maeng (1424~1483) grew lotus plants after bringing a bag of lotus seeds from China. It is now a favorite destination for family picnics and photo sessions. In the middle of autumn, many people enjoy the sight of ripe crops in the wide fields and have a great time at the Hojobeol Festival held in Maehwa-dong.◇ Hojobeol Field boasts soul-refreshing, wide open fields. This was the spot where the first page of Siheung City’s long history of land reclamation was written. Now, it is transforming itself into an eco-friendly urban space. ⓒ G-LIFE Editing Team

Gatgol Ecological Park
Gatgol Ecological Park, located in Janggok-dong, Siheung City, was created within the Siheung Tidal Flats, the only in-bay flats in Gyeonggi Province. The area produced salt from 1936, the year of its initial development as a salt field during the colonial period, until 1996. Recently, it was designated as a swamp reserve by the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTM).

Nearby areas are habitats for various rare and endangered wildlife species. The place is a meandering in-bay seawater channel, the like of which is hard to find anywhere else in the world, and where the tides ebb and flow at intervals of 12 hours and 25 minutes. The entire area is host to a colony of Indian bean (Phacelurus latifolius [Steud.] Ohwi) plants, which have been designated as a rare plant species.

The Janghyeon Housing District (292ha) is located adjacent to Gatgol Ecological Park, a eco-friendly space where an urban area meets nature and which compares well with the Mai Po Marshes in Hong Kong.

With the completion of the ecological park, it is expected to attract much attention as a representative eco-tourism course in Siheung City, along with the ‘Green-Way’, an eco-path linking Hojobeol Field with Mulwang Reservoir, the ecological park, Walgot Cape, and Oido.

Neumnae-gil has gained a reputation as a trekking course comparable to the Olle-gil of Jejudo and the Dulle-gil of Jirisan Mountain. There are three options, namely, Sup-gil, Yet-gil, and Gatgol-gil. The 13km-long Sup-gil (Forest Path) starts at Siheung City Hall and links the surrounding low hills; the 11km-long Yet-gil (Olden-day Path) is composed of ancient hillside paths and passes; and, finally, the 16km-long Gatgol-gil runs between Siheung City Hall and the entrance to Sorae Pogu (Inlet), and continues along the riverside.◇ Picturesque view of Wolgot Pogu (Inlet). Lovers of sliced raw fish look forward to visiting this place. ⓒ G-LIFE Editing Team

Oido and its prehistoric sitesOido, widely known for its red lighthouse, is a favorite destination of people from nearby areas. Novelist Kim Hun set his novel Autumn Falling on Salt Fields in Oido, West Coast on Oido. People enjoy visiting the island to taste roasted clams and fried shrimps. The island ranks among the Top 5 tourist destinations in Korea thanks to its beautiful sunrise and sunset (Source: Korea Travel Guidebook 2011).

Visitors to Okgu Park marvel at the beautiful scenery of the West Coast region. The island was linked to the mainland via a causeway following the development of salt fields during the colonial period. Seoul Subway Line-4 also extends as far as Oido (Oido Station).

In 1949, Professor Yun Mu-byeong discovered a large shell mound in Oido. Now, work is under way to form a prehistoric park on the site. Upon completion of the work, Siheung City plans to designate the area as a special prehistoric cultural district. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a hands-on experience of Oido’s coastal culture. Then, the area will secure its position as the No.1 tourist destination in the Greater Seoul Area.

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