Suwon Buksudon Church Opens Its Walls as Public Walkway for Citizens and Tourists

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon City and the Catholic Diocese of Suwon will demolish the walls of Buksudon Church and create a walking trail connecting Haenggung-dong's ‘King's Alley’ and Hwaseong Haenggung.

Suwon City and the Suwon Diocese (headed by Bishop Lee Yong-hoon) signed a ‘Specialized Project Agreement for Haenggung-dong Urban Regeneration and Buksudon King's Alley’ on the 29th at Suwon City Hall and promised to cooperate for the successful implementation of the project.

The signing ceremony was attended by Yoo Moon-jong, Second Vice Mayor of Suwon City, Ki Woo-jin, Director of Urban Policy at Suwon City, Rev. Yang Tae-young, Administrator of the Suwon Diocese, Rev. Hwang Hyun, Director of the Management Bureau, and others.

Currently, to reach Hwaseong Haenggung from King's Alley, one must take a detour of over 500 meters. However, passing through Buksudon Church will allow for direct access.

Under the agreement, the Suwon Diocese will approve the use of land so that Suwon City can carry out repairs to Buksudon Church's aging walls, create a public walkway, and improve the parking lot. After completion, the diocese plans to manage and operate facilities by opening the public walkway, parking lot, and restrooms to citizens.

Suwon City will invest in urban regeneration seed project funds (50% state funding, 50% city funding) for facility construction. The Suwon Diocese will bear 10% of the facility construction costs.

The ‘Buksudon King's Alley Specialized Project,’ which is being promoted as a detailed unit project under the Haenggung-dong Urban Regeneration Project, involves creating a public walkway connecting the Suwon Stream, King's Alley, Buksudon Church, and Hwaseong Haenggung. It is scheduled to open to the public in January next year.

The public walkway begins at the Suwon Stream near Hwahong Gate and continues through King's Alley, Buksudon Church, and Jungjo-ro (Hwaseong Haenggung).

The rear wall of Buksudon Church will be demolished to create the public walkway, and when completed, King's Alley and Jungjo-ro will be directly connected. Tourists and citizens can walk through King's Alley, tour Buksudon Church, exit through the church's main gate, and proceed to Hwaseong Haenggung.

Buksudon Church will open its parking lot free of charge to visitors of King's Alley and viewers of ‘Beulli Gallery’ (Registered Cultural Property by the Cultural Heritage Administration) within the church.

Second Vice Mayor Yoo Moon-jong said, “Buksudon Church, which will be open to citizens and tourists, is a key node in the public walkway connecting King's Alley and Hwaseong Haenggung,” and added, “This project, made possible through the cooperation of the Suwon Diocese, will serve as an excellent example of public-private partnership.”

He continued, “The eastern side of Haenggung-dong, which had appeared to be in decline compared to Haenggung-daenggil (the eastern side of Haenggung-dong), has been neatly improved through the Haenggung-dong Urban Regeneration Project,” and expressed hopes that “the public walkway extending from King's Alley to Buksudon Church will become established as a tourist destination.”