부산광역시

Site reclamation and park development period (1995~Present)

When the Hialeah Unit was first stationed in the area, it was relatively secluded. However, as the Seomyeon area rapidly developed, the contrast with the underdeveloped surroundings became more pronounced. Like many neighborhoods near military installations, the area was subject to the restrictions of the Military Base Protection Act, which hindered development for decades and left a lasting impact on the region’s growth.

The issue of reclaiming the Hialeah garrison site gained momentum in 1995, when civic groups in Busan established the “Busan Citizens’ Committee to Reclaim the Hialeah Site” in response to the area’s distorted urban structure. Military bases are typically situated away from residential urban centers. However, the Hialeah Unit’s location in the heart of Busan made it a focal point of controversy and ongoing calls for its return. Under the provisions of the Korea-U.S. Agreement and the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), the City of Busan persistently advocated for the relocation and return of the Hialeah site. Various alternative sites were proposed, but none met the conditions required for relocation under the U.S.-ROK agreement.

In March 2002, the Korea-U.S. Land Partnership Plan (LPP) included plans to relocate the Hialeah Unit by 2011. However, the agreement was revised in October 2004, resulting in the closure of the Hialeah Unit in August 2006. Its functions were subsequently redistributed to bases in Daegu (Camp Walker and Camp Henry), Waegwan (Camp Carroll), and Jinhae. The long-delayed transfer of management for the Hialeah Unit finally concluded on January 13, 2010, 17 years after the return movement began, when the U.S. and South Korean governments reached an agreement, and Busan City officially took over management on January 27.

In 2006, following the decision to close the Hialeah Unit, the city of Busan held a design competition to create a citizen park that would represent the city. James Corner’s proposal, centered around the concept of “Alluvium”, land shaped by the flow and deposition of sediment, was selected as the winning design. Busan Citizens Park was subsequently opened in May 2014, bringing this vision to life.