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Geumjeongsan officially designated as South Korea’s first urban national park
Haps Magazine Korea
November 2, 2025
(Photo courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)
After nearly two decades of advocacy, Busan’s beloved Geumjeongsan has officially been designated as the nation’s 24th national park and the first-ever urban national park in South Korea.
The decision was finalized at the 144th National Park Committee meeting held on October 31, officially approving the “Geumjeongsan National Park Designation and Park Plan.”
The move fulfills a long-standing hope of Busan citizens and marks a historic milestone in the city’s environmental and cultural preservation efforts.
Spanning 66.86 square kilometers, the newly designated park covers six districts in Busan and part of Yangsan City. Roughly 78 percent of the park’s area lies within Busan, with the remainder in Yangsan.
The park includes both Geumjeongsan and the adjoining Baegyangsan, forming a major ecological corridor that connects the Nakdong Ridge from Taebaek Mountain to the Nakdong River estuary.
This is the first time in 37 years that a non-protected area has been newly designated as a national park, following Sobaeksan in 1987.
Geumjeongsan’s designation was based on its exceptional ecological, cultural, and scenic value, as confirmed by a 2020–2021 feasibility study by the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment.
The area is home to 1,782 species of wildlife, including 14 endangered species, and contains 127 cultural assets, the highest number among all Korean national parks.
The movement to protect Geumjeongsan began in 2005 through citizen and environmental groups, later gaining momentum with a petition campaign that collected over 100,000 signatures.
Busan City formally requested national park designation in 2019, and persistent collaboration between civic organizations, religious institutions, and local government culminated in an agreement with Beomeosa Temple and other key stakeholders last year.
The city expects the new designation to bolster eco-tourism and revitalize local communities.
By connecting Busan’s mountains, rivers, and coastline under one environmental network, Geumjeongsan National Park is set to enhance the city’s image as a global eco-friendly destination while offering new opportunities for conservation, education, and recreation.