Gyeongju to build urban ecological forest on disused railway site near Geumjangdae

Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, plans to transform a disused railway site near Geumjangdae into an urban ecological forest called Geumjangnagan.

According to the city, Gyeongju was selected in December 2024 for the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy's urban ecological corridor restoration program, securing 4.6 billion won ($3.38 million) in state funding as part of a total project budget of 6.6 billion won. The city was also chosen under a separate idle railway land utilization program, allowing it to use the disused site free of charge for 20 years without purchasing it.

Building on those two outcomes, Gyeongju is pushing ahead with the Geumjangnagan urban ecological corridor restoration project. By 2028, the city plans to develop roughly 30,000 square meters of disused railway land near Geumjangdae into an ecological forest and walking trails, creating a green rest space where residents can enjoy nature in their daily lives.

The project will also establish habitats for diverse wildlife — including otters and lesser spotted woodpeckers — to boost biodiversity and foster a space where people and nature coexist.

"By securing state funding and using the idle railway land at no cost, we have reduced the fiscal burden while maximizing the project's impact," Gyeongju Mayor Ju Nak-young said. "We will develop the Geumjangnagan urban ecological forest into a signature downtown green space where Gyeongju residents can enjoy nature every day."