Yongsan Park opens on trial basis

A security robot roams around Yongsan Park under construction near the new presidential office in Seoul, Friday, as some parts of the park, formerly the headquarters of the U.S. Forces Korea, were temporarily opened to the public the same day. The temporary opening of the park will run through June 19. Yonhap

The site of a former U.S. Forces Korea base near the office of President Yoon Suk-yeol opened as a public park on a trial basis Friday, drawing crowds of people trying to get a first-hand look at the site that had been off limits to ordinary citizens for the past 120 years.

Yongsan Park has been under construction on the site previously used as that USFK's Yongsan Garrison, after the USFK headquarters relocated to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul. The government had initially planned to complete the park by 2027, but that plan has been postponed

On Friday, part of the park was opened to the public on a trial basis.

A 27-year-old who previously worked as a translator while performing his military service at the U.S. base welcomed the government's move to turn the base into a park.

"It is meaningful that the site has been returned to (Seoul) earlier than scheduled," Na Eui-hyun said.

A 71-year-old visitor, only identified by his surname Chang, said the visit was to satisfy his curiosity.

"Japanese people first used the site and then later U.S. soldiers have so far used it. I have been curious about how big the place is," Chang said.

Visitors must make online reservations in advance, and up to 500 people can visit the site for a two-hour time slot, or 2,500 per day.

The new Yoon Suk-yeol government relocated the presidential office from Cheong Wa Dae to the defense ministry compound in the Yongsan District in an effort to move out of a "symbol of imperial power" and get closer to the people. (Yonhap)

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