Yongin Special City to Build Country's Largest Lake Park in Idong Township, More Than Twice Size of Gwanggyo Lake Park

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] A lake park covering 480 hectares—more than twice the size of Gwanggyo Lake Park—will be constructed in Idong Township, Cheogin-gu, Yongin Special City.

Yongin City announced on the 16th that it plans to connect the waterfront spaces of Idong Reservoir in Idong Township, Cheogin-gu (where some park development work is currently underway) with the upcoming Songjeong Stream walking trail to create the country's largest-scale lake park.

Mayor Lee Sang-il stated, "Idong Lake Park, developed with the concept of work-live-play (職·住·樂), will transform into Yongin's landmark park, serving as a rest space for the public housing district (semiconductor-specialized new city) being built in Idong Township and the Samsung Electronics Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex in Idong and Namsa townships—where advanced IT talents will be active—while also providing cultural and sports facilities for citizens."

In this regard, the city requested Gyeonggi Province's approval to include plans designating an area of 4.836 million square meters in Songjeong-ri and Eobiri, Idong Township as an urban park in the '2035 Yongin Park and Greenspace Master Plan' and the '2040 Yongin Urban Master Plan.'

To develop large-scale urban parks exceeding 100,000 square meters, the necessary contents must be reflected in the park and greenspace master plan and urban master plan prior to designating urban planning facilities (parks) according to Article 19 of the 'National Land Planning and Use Act' and Articles 5(3) and 6(2) of the 'Urban Park and Greenspace Act.'

Idong Reservoir is the largest reservoir in the Seoul metropolitan area. Among the Idong Lake Park site, the water surface area alone covers 2.697 million square meters (approximately 820,000 pyeong), and the land area surrounding the reservoir also reaches 2.138 million square meters (approximately 650,000 pyeong). The land area alone is significantly larger than two golf courses (approximately 270,000 pyeong for 18 holes each).

The combined area of water and land is approximately 2.4 times larger than Gwanggyo Lake Park (2.025 million square meters), which has been regarded as the country's largest lake park.

The city plans to create sports and leisure spaces in the upper water section of Idong Reservoir where citizens can enjoy water sports and appreciate the waterfront scenery. On land, the city is considering establishing a complex cultural space featuring a multi-purpose cultural center, multipurpose sports facilities, greenhouse gardens, and lake cafes, along with a relaxation area with forest rest facilities for citizen healing, arboretums, and camping grounds.

The city also plans to connect Idong Lake Park—which will serve as a support park for the advanced system semiconductor national industrial complex—with nearby Songjeong and Jinwi stream walking trails to create a mega-sized waterfront park.

As it develops the new city in Idong Township and the Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex, the city is reviewing plans to develop the waterfront spaces of Yongdeok Stream (connecting Yongdeok Reservoir in Mukri, Idong Township to Idong Reservoir) and Songjeong Stream as rest and leisure spaces for citizens. By connecting these to Idong Lake Park, the city aims to create a waterfront park befitting Yongin's status as it leaps forward as a global semiconductor hub.

The perimeter of Idong Reservoir exceeds 13 kilometers. With the addition of 8.5 kilometers of walking trails along Songjeong and Yongdeok streams, the city believes it will serve well not only as a walking route for citizens but also as a bicycle path.

The city plans to utilize Idong Lake Park, being developed as a Yongin landmark, not merely as a space for citizen rest but also to expand cultural facilities that are lacking in Cheogin-gu.

In this regard, the Yongin City Research Institute presented plans in its final report on 'Yongin Vision 2040 Future City Development Strategy' held on the 9th to create a cultural belt by establishing cultural facilities around Idong Reservoir and linking them with performance halls and museums that Mayor Lee Sang-il announced he would establish in the Idong Township new city. The institute also suggested installing terraces and cultural facilities in the waterfront spaces around Idong Reservoir and Songjeong Stream, and concentrating commercial facilities in waterfront areas to create eco-friendly rest spaces with cultural and tourism functions.

The reason Yongin City and the Yongin City Research Institute can develop diverse plans for the Idong Lake Park site is that the area around Idong Reservoir remains in an undeveloped state with few artificial facilities.

Mayor Lee Sang-il stated, "The Idong Reservoir area was restricted by the designation of the Songtan water source protection zone in 1979, and was released from regulations in December 2024—45 years later—making it truly a blank canvas. Given the spacious area and gentle terrain, I believe we can create many beneficial facilities and spaces for citizens if we exercise our imagination well, and we are conducting research accordingly."

'Park' Designation—Developing as Practical Park Beforehand

Before officially designating Idong Lake Park as an urban planning facility 'park,' the city is currently constructing a perimeter path to allow citizens to use it like a general park.

The intention is to enable nearby residents to comfortably enjoy a pleasant natural environment even before the Idong Reservoir area is officially designated as a park.

In this regard, the city first constructed a 2-kilometer perimeter path in the Songjeong-ri area of Idong Reservoir near the center of Idong Township, allowing citizens to walk on and around the lake. Wooden decks have been installed in the section from near the year-round fishing site (where water previously prevented walking) to Jeolgol Rest Area and the water section near Songjeong Respia, enabling citizens to comfortably walk and enjoy the scenery anytime.

Walking past this deck through Jeolgol Rest Area to Ijinbong Rest Area and continuing on the existing forest trail amounts to a walk of approximately 4 kilometers.

A photo zone featuring Joayong, Yongin City's official character, has also been installed on the deck near Jeolgol Rest Area.

Once the 2040 Yongin Urban Master Plan and 2035 Yongin Park and Greenspace Master Plan are finalized, the city plans to reorganize urban management plans and establish a park development plan to transform the entire Idong Reservoir and surrounding Songjeong Stream areas into a waterfront park.

■ Idong Reservoir Perimeter Twice That of Gwanggyo Lake Park

Idong Reservoir is Gyeonggi Province's largest-scale reservoir, constructed to supply agricultural water to the southern Gyeonggi region. Construction began in 1964 and was completed in 1972. Its water storage capacity is 20.94 million tons, which is 1.3 times that of Gosam Reservoir, the province's second-largest.

Idong Reservoir's perimeter is 13 kilometers, including two reservoirs—Woncheon and Sindae reservoirs—making it twice the perimeter of Gwanggyo Lake Park (6.5 kilometers).

Given the large water volume and wide lake surface, waves occur like those on the sea during peak water season.

The vast landscape of Idong Reservoir viewed from Eobri 2-ri (near Dongdosa) at sunset is spectacular. This 'Eobri sunset' has been counted as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Yongin.