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From a Closed Military Facility to a Space for Everyday Life: The Shinpyeong Reserve Forces Training Site to Be Transformed into a Multi-Purpose Culture and Sports Complex

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□ Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced a draft development plan to develop a 220,000-square-meter (m²) site in the Shinpyeong Reserve Forces Training Site area—previously left as underused land—into a multi-purpose culture and sports complex.
○ The site, which served as a military facility for more than 40 years, has been under review for concrete reuse plans since the Ministry of National Defense announced a plan in 2022 to consolidate and relocate reserve forces training sites.
○ Busan Metropolitan City aims to develop the site into a core hub of everyday social overhead capital (SOC) where all citizens can enjoy sports, culture, and relaxation, thereby expanding living sports infrastructure in the western Busan area and advancing the 15-minute city.

□ Busan Metropolitan City planned this project based on the assessment that the western Busan living zone needs expanded multi-purpose sports space and to respond strategically to the growing demand for community sports. Through this effort, the City intends to accelerate the realization of key eighth-term municipal pledges: “Citizen-Happy 15-Minute City” and “Busan, a City of Community Sports.”
○ Participation in community sports continues to rise due to population aging and growing interest in leisure and health, but Saha District’s community sports infrastructure remains at a relatively low level compared to other districts and counties.
○ In particular, since 2025 the Gangseo Indoor Gymnasium has been used as a home venue for a professional volleyball team, making the expansion of new sports facilities an urgent need.

□ In addition, considering the site’s relatively high elevation and steep terrain, Busan Metropolitan City plans to establish a development plan that preserves the natural environment to the greatest extent possible, enables use by all citizens, and minimizes damage to the surrounding landscape.
○ In particular, the City has been consulting with the Ministry of National Defense on proceeding with administrative procedures for land purchase once the Ministry completes soil contamination remediation, disaster recovery, and demolition of existing buildings following the closure of the training site.

□ Taking fiscal conditions and feasibility into account, Busan Metropolitan City will move the project forward in two phases. Phase 1 will prioritize multi-purpose culture and sports facilities, including a multi-purpose indoor gymnasium, outdoor sports facilities, and parking areas, and Phase 2 will add citizen demand-driven community sports facilities.
○ Phase 1 will be implemented across the area where existing military facilities are scattered, with estimated project costs of approximately KRW 28 billion. Busan Metropolitan City plans to move swiftly by completing administrative procedures—such as designation of an urban planning facility (sports facility) and establishment of a basic plan—starting this year; proceeding with detailed design and land acquisition next year (2027); beginning construction thereafter; and targeting completion by 2029.
○ Phase 2 will be implemented on the eastern side of the Phase 1 site. The City plans to actively gather citizen demand and establish a development plan to ensure the optimal community sports facilities are created in functional connection with the multi-purpose culture and sports facilities.

□ In addition, Busan Metropolitan City will enhance the utilization of the complex sports facilities by developing diverse programs in connection with the Korea Forest Service’s urban and early childhood forest experience center, which was promoted to expand recreation and experience spaces on land adjacent to the project site (Yangsan National Forest Management Office).

□ Also, to improve access to the sports facilities, Busan Metropolitan City will work with Saha District to complete the access road expansion by 2028.
○ The City plans to widen the entire access road to the training site from the current 5–6 meters (m) to 12 meters (m).

□ Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “The development of the Shinpyeong Reserve Forces Training Site area is not merely a project to build sports facilities. It is a key balanced development initiative that re-creates a military facility long closed within the city as a community-based multi-purpose culture and sports complex—a space for citizens’ everyday lives.”

□ He added, “Busan Metropolitan City will concentrate its capacities on moving the project forward with speed and momentum by establishing a multi-faceted cooperative framework—including securing national and municipal funding and reducing project costs—and will create a key 15-minute city hub where western Busan residents can build a warm community together with their neighbors, so that Busan becomes a city where citizens are happy and a city they would choose to live in again, even if reborn.”