– Remote mountain hamlets reborn through the new life style of 5-city & 2-country – 

Gyeonggi-do will create residential, recreational, and cultural spaces in 172 remote mountain hamlets that are left behind in the process of the nation’s development. This new project will provide the residents with improved living environment and income base. 

Two villages including Naebang-ri of Namyangju will be built upon this year while designing and planning for five villages such as Jungwon-ri in Yangpyeong will be carried out. These villages will be put at the center of changing life style of 5-city & 2-country through which people from the city exit their normal life environment to enjoy the countryside for the weekends. 

The recent introduction of 5-working day system and the heightening public awareness on health and “well-being” will set the basis for this project where the green tourist resources will be used to promote interaction between country and city residents. Systematically designed thematic programs will encourage consumption of domestic agricultural goods, too. 

The province is also creating forest parks in places of much scenic beauty to use the mountain areas as recreational and educational spaces for the people. 

A 120ha forest park will be opened in Yongmun Mountain, Yangpyeong within this year, and preparation of a 33ha provincial arboretum in Osan will be completed in 2005 to be opened in 2006. Construction for a 263ha forest park in Kalbong Mountain, Gapyeong-gun will be launched for the opening at the end of 2006. Designing for the arboretum (27.3ha) in Hwanghak Mountain of Yeoju will be completed within this year, too. 

The province will use the nation’s biggest pine forest in Doyu Forest of Hanghyeon-ri, Gapyeong to create a 1,679ha comprehensive park with a field training site, forest observation course, outdoor activity facility, and wild botanical garden. The park will be the home for various events and programs throughout the year as well as a recreational and resting place for the people from across the nation. 

A provincial official stated, “10 villages including Sanchon in Seoksan-ri, Yangpyeong, 7 natural forests in Chukryeong Mountain and others, 5 arboretums such as Hantaek botanical garden, and 33 forests in Surisan Mountain and others are enthusiastically responded to by city residents. Gyeonggi-do is striving to further improve and expand the facilities and to develop various recreational programs as the 5-working day system as well as the annual vacation system will spread.”