Gwangyro Mountain Ecological Protection Begins in Earnest

Various Gwangyro Mountain protection activities are underway, including the creation of ecological passages that were severed by the Yeongdong Expressway.

Additionally, the creation of an eco-park and green food culture street is being promoted, allowing Gwangyro Mountain to be developed as a comprehensive rest space for citizens' health and well-being.

The Suwon Metropolitan Council's Gwangyro Mountain Conservation Special Committee (Chair Jung Dong-geun) held a meeting on the 15th and finalized detailed activity plans in nine fields, including a survey on green space damage to Gwangyro Mountain and the establishment of an ecological passage (eco-bridge) creation plan, with concrete activities to be undertaken by September.

During May and June, a fact-finding survey will be conducted on Gwangyro Mountain's hiking trails, ecosystems, and hikers' unauthorized waste disposal to prepare an ecological map and a report on hiking trail conditions and improvement directions.

In August, the committee plans to visit the Gyeonggi headquarters of the Korea Expressway Corporation to report on the current situation regarding trail damage caused by the Yeongdong Expressway and disruption of ecological movement passages, and to discuss ecological restoration projects and eco-bridge construction methods.

Additionally, the committee will visit Gyeonggi Development Corporation to submit recommendations for eco-friendly development of Gwangyro New City and propose the establishment of a joint policy consultation council.

The Gwangyro Mountain Special Committee also plans to carry out temple cultural heritage restoration projects, including the restoration of 'Changseong Temple (near the Gwangyro Mountain mineral spring),' which currently has only its site remaining.

Beyond this, the committee is promoting the creation of a Gwangyro Mountain eco-park and green food culture street, while also planning to establish new parking lots for hikers near the Daeheung-dong subway base site and in the vicinity of the Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment.

Plans are being made to open an access road to Gwangyro Mountain (from Kyonggi University's main gate to the Gyeonggi Police Agency direction) and maintain hiking trails to create convenient facilities for residents and tourists.

Chair Jung Dong-geun stated, "From this month through July, we plan to conduct 3-4 field surveys of Gwangyro Mountain's hiking trails and planned sites for ecological passages," and explained, "We will hold briefing sessions and resident forums with relevant agencies to establish comprehensive measures for Gwangyro Mountain conservation."

By September, the committee plans to hold a 'Gwangyro Mountain Special Committee Results Symposium' attended by committee members, representatives of the Gwangyro New City project and environmental organizations, to report on implementation achievements and gather expert opinions.

Meanwhile, the committee conducted the first field survey of Gwangyro Mountain hiking trails from 21st morning, and will visit the Organic Hongseong Village on the 7th of next month for observation related to creating an organic farming village on Gwangyro Mountain.