Former restricted Beomeosa waterworks site reopens as ‘Beomeo Forest,’ a new community green space

(Photo courtesy of City of Busan)

A once-off-limits area near Beomeosa Temple which was closed to the public for nearly 90 years as part of a waterworks facility has been transformed into “Beomeo Forest,” a new open green space created under Busan’s 15-Minute City initiative.

The site opened to the public yesterday as an easily accessible neighborhood rest and recreation area.

The project is part of the Beomeosa Waterworks Cultural Complex Development, which is converting unused land and former storage buildings around the site into a nature-and-culture-focused community space.

While the full project is scheduled for completion at the end of 2026, Beomeo Forest, developed first as a core base facility, has been opened early in response to resident requests.

Once a protected woodland area, the forest has now been redesigned as a local leisure and gathering space while preserving its natural environment.

Key features include wooden platforms among cypress trees near Yongseong Valley, a children’s play zone with slides and climbing areas, picnic and rest spaces with benches and tables, and a resident-requested loess walking path.

Construction began in 2024 following design work launched in 2022, with trails upgraded and amenities added to create an open, walkable forest park. A formal opening ceremony was held at the site’s Family Yard on January 7.

The next phase of the project will see an existing warehouse renovated into a multi-purpose cultural facility, including programs themed around forest education.

Beomeo Forest is one of several projects developed through Busan’s 15-Minute City policy competition, which has identified 15 improvement initiatives across ten districts, to be completed in stages through 2027.

The city expects the program to expand neighborhood-level cultural and leisure hubs while improving everyday accessibility and quality of life for residents.

Fleet Chinhae