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“Geumjeongsan National Park Citizens’ Forum” Held to Urge Swift Designation of Geumjeongsan as a National Park

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The Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that the “Geumjeongsan National Park Citizens’ Forum,” hosted by the Citizens’ Promotion Headquarters for Geumjeongsan National Park (Chairperson Kang Jong-in), will be held today (June 20) at 4:00 PM at the Citizens’ Promotion Headquarters conference room.

○ This forum is intended to gather public support once again for the swift designation of Geumjeongsan as a national park. Approximately 80 participants, including citizens, members of civic groups, officials from the city, districts*, the city council, and the 

Korea National Park Service, are expected to attend.
*Districts: Busanjin-gu, Dongnae-gu, Buk-gu, Geumjeong-gu, Yeonje-gu, Sasang-gu

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The designation of Geumjeongsan as a national park has long been a cherished goal of local civil society, first proposed in 2006. A pivotal moment came in 2014 with a signature campaign that gathered 100,000 citizens.

○ Since then, the City and the Korea National Park Service have followed major steps such as feasibility studies, resident reviews, and public hearings. In particular, most of the major administrative procedures at the local level—including public opinion collection—were completed in December 2024. The designation is now awaiting final interagency consultations. Once these are concluded, the designation will be finalized and officially announced through deliberation by the National Park Committee.

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However, with the recent slowdown in the designation process, there is a growing need to re-engage public interest and participation.

○ In response, the Citizens’ Promotion Headquarters is organizing this forum to reaffirm civic commitment to the park’s designation and to urge the swift completion of the remaining administrative procedures.

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The forum will feature presentations and discussions by representatives from the City, Korea National Park Service, academia, and ecological researchers.

○ Topics for discussion include:
▲ Key cooperation efforts with related agencies and local residents during the national park designation process
▲ Boundary and facility plans for the proposed national park
▲ Strategic direction for designation in the context of balanced national development

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Kang Jong-in, Chairperson of the Citizens’ Promotion Headquarters for Geumjeongsan National Park, stated, “We will continue to unite the will of civil society until the designation and official announcement of Geumjeongsan National Park is complete.”

Mayor Park Heong-joon remarked, “Achieving the significant and lofty goal of designating Geumjeongsan as a national park requires continuous civic interest and participation. The City will do its utmost to realize the wishes of the citizens as soon as possible. I hope this forum serves as a meaningful opportunity to further solidify public support for the designation.”

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Appendix: Overview of the Geumjeongsan National Park Citizens’ Forum

□ Event Overview

• ●Date & Time: Friday, June 20, 2025, 16:00–18:00

• ●Venue: Citizens’ Promotion Headquarters for Geumjeongsan National Park (39, Botanic Garden-ro 75beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu)

• ●Participants: Citizens, civic group members, Busan Metropolitan Council, city and district officials, Korea National Park Service (approx. 80 attendees)

• ●Host: Citizens’ Promotion Headquarters for Geumjeongsan National Park (Chairperson Kang Jong-in)

• ●Main Focus: Civic resolution to promote the designation of Geumjeongsan National Park

□ Discussion Topics

• ●Busan Metropolitan City: Cooperation with related agencies (e.g., Gyeongnam Province, Yangsan City), and residents of proposed park areas

• ●Korea National Park Service: Proposed park boundary and facility plans

• ●Academia: Strategy for designation to support balanced national development

□ Tentative Schedule

Time	Content	Notes
16:00–16:10	Opening ceremony and national anthem	Host, Senior Advisor
16:10–16:15	Introduction of attendees	Host
16:15–16:20	Introduction of speakers (5 incl. PNU Professor)
16:20–16:50	Presentations by speakers
16:50–17:30	Q&A and open discussion
17:40–17:50	Reading of resolution and closing ceremony (photos)	Host