City of Wonju to transform abandoned railroad into 10.3 kilometers-long forest trail

▲ This photo, provided by Wonju, shows a bird's-eye view of the envisioned Chiaksan Wind Road Forest. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ This file photo shows the abandoned railroad in Wonju (Photo by Lee Jae-hyun) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Mar. 22 (Yonhap) -- The city of Wonju is spurring the construction of the Chiaksan Wind Road Forest while making use of the abandoned railroad.

This project, with a total budget of 22.5 billion won, aims to construct a 10.3 kilometers-long forest trail that extends from Usan-dong to Bangok Station. The forest path is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.

The trail will be divided into three sections: The first section will begin in front of Halla Vivaldi Apartment in Usan-dong and end by the Wonju Railroad Bridge; the second section will connect Baemal Town Apartment in Bongsan-dong to Yugyo Station; the last section will range from Yugyo Station to Bangok Station.

The trail will be covered with diverse types of trees, including the fast-growing metasequoias and maple trees, along with rest areas.

The city expects the cold and fresh wind blowing from Chiaksan Mountain will flow into the center of the city and reduce the density of fine dust, as well as improve the residential environment of the city residents who have been living in an underdeveloped village alongside the abandoned railroad for some 80 years.

“We will put our utmost effort to transform this abandoned railroad, which has finally returned to the arms of citizens after some 80 years, into a Wind Road Forest that will soon be the next landmark of our city,” said Mayor Won Kang-soo of Wonju.

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Ha eun Lee)

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