Gunsan, South Korea — Gunsan City held an official completion ceremony on November 26 for the Gunsan Rail Forest, an urban wind corridor connecting Sajang Intersection to the former Gunsan Freight Station, marking the successful conclusion of a four-year development project.
The ceremony was attended by approximately 100 participants, including National Assembly Member Shin Young-dae, Jeonbuk State Vice Governor Roh Hong-seok, Korea Forest Service Deputy Minister Park Eun-sik, Korea National Railway Director of Management Support Kwon Hyuk, as well as representatives from related organisations and residents.
The Gunsan Rail Forest project transformed a 2.6-kilometre section of disused railway land into an urban ecological pedestrian corridor where citizens can walk, relax, and connect with nature. With a total investment of approximately KRW 16 billion from 2022 to 2025, the project incorporates the concept of an urban wind corridor, designed to channel fresh air generated in surrounding forests into the city centre. The initiative is expected to significantly improve Gunsan’s urban environment by reducing fine dust levels and mitigating the urban heat island effect.
In his welcoming remarks, Mayor Im June Kang of Gunsan stated, “What once divided the city as a railway line has now been reborn as a forest path that connects the daily lives of our citizens.” He added, “The Gunsan Rail Forest is not merely a pedestrian walkway, but an open public space that restores natural airflow through the city and allows everyone to breathe freely. It will serve as a key asset in reshaping Gunsan’s urban spatial structure.”
Mayor Kang also expressed his gratitude, noting that the project was made possible through close cooperation among the Korea National Railway, the Korea Forest Service, and the local community, overcoming complex administrative and coordination challenges associated with the redevelopment of unused railway land.
The completion of the Rail Forest marks not an end, but the beginning of a broader expansion of urban green spaces in Gunsan. Based on the newly completed first phase, the city is already moving forward with plans to extend the corridor both northward and southward.
The northern extension will connect to the Gaejeong Station area, while the southern section will link the Inner Harbour and the old downtown district. Gunsan City aims to create an interconnected urban environment where residents across the city can experience nature within close reach as part of its mid- to long-term development strategy.
With its completion, the Gunsan Rail Forest is set to become a new urban heart where people and nature coexist, serving as a symbolic space that brings renewed vitality and energy to the entire city of Gunsan.
Rendering of the Gunsan Rail Forest
