+ BACKGROUND, CHALLENGES AND OBJECTIVES

Haenggung-dong, a town embraced by Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, (an UNESCO World Heritage Site), is located in the heart of Suwon. Benefitting from its central location, in the past it had played a key role in many sectors including administration, economy, transportation and culture.

However, because the town has been subject to development regulations meant for preserving Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, and due to the recent development of new towns and cities in Korea, Haenggung-dong has lost its pivotal role in administration and commerce. Accordingly, signs of urban decline such as the gradual decrease of residents and aging facilities became noticeable, and thus the town lost its vitality. To put it in perspective, 85.7% of all buildings were evaluated to be outdated, the population declined to only 59.8% compared to the peak 30 years earlier, and only 24.9% of businesses were present compared to the peak 12 years ago.

The Haenggung-dong Regeneration Project was initiated under the vision of “Suwon Hwaseong Fortress Renaissance” with the aim to improve quality of life for the residents by utilizing shared communities and historical and cultural assets bestowed by the World Heritage Site.

+ ACTIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION

The Haenggung-dong Urban Regeneration Project was initiated in 2016 in the areas of Buksu-dong, Maehyang-dong, Namsu-dong, and Paldal-ro 1,2-ga(786,749㎡), which fall on the eastern side of Jeongjo-ro, the main thoroughfare. The areas located on the eastern side of Jeongjo-ro were relatively underdeveloped compared to those on the western side due to the existence of Haengridan-road, a tourist area on the western side in which various cafes and restaurents have been introduced since the establishment of EcoMobility Suwon in 2013.

A total of 10 billion Korean won has been allocated (5 billion from the Central Government, 5 billion from the local government) for 6 years to conduct projects aiming to improve infrastructure in the affected areas and promote the vitality of the local communities therein. The projects will be completed by the end of the current year(2021).

The Haenggung-dong project placed key values in revitalizing the affected communities by strengthening capacity for local residents, regenerating their culture using local assets, and reinvigorating the local economy by creating jobs.

In particular, the project includes the establishement of 4 base faclilities including Haenggung-dong Oullim Center, Sharing Economy Factory, Namsu-dong Elderly Studio, and Small Library for Children, to ensure that the urban regeneration project is sustainable through constant community activities for residents even after the project is completed.

1) Haenggung-dong Oullim Center: Various communal spaces for local residents to utilize such as a shared kitchen, multi-purposed room, and music room have been established in the center. In particular, residents are using the space to run shared economy projects in order to lay the economic foundation for residents’ activities.  A cafe has also been opened on the first floor of the center and an upcycling project utilizing waste material from used socks is being carried out as well.

2) Namsu-dong Elderly Studio: Located on the first floor across from a senior citizens center,  the studio is a place where the elderly gather to craft hand-made soap, traditional Korean condiments, and traditional sweets. The elderly are able to discover the vitality of old age and enjoy the profits as these activities are re-invested into the town, leading to sustainable urban regeneration.

3) Sharing Economy Factory: The factory was refurbished by Suwon after the city bought 4 narrow traditional Korean houses (hanok) which had been built over 50 years ago. Multiple sharing economy businesses are being conducted from the factory. Residents worked together to establish a brewery and experience center called Haenggung Sonata, where Suwon traditional brew, Haenggungdoongi, was born.

4) Small Children’s Library: Considering the nearby elementary school and the fact that most of the residents of Haenggung-dong are double income families, the City of Suwon bought a house and remodeled it into a children’s library. The Library Mangement Committe organized mainly by Yeonmu Elementary School’s Parents’ Association has done outstanding work building connections between local stakeholders and making use of local assets.

In addition, a house repair project has been carried out with the goal of improving the landscape by revamping deteriorated houses around Suwon Hwaseong Fortress. Established as a part of residential environment improvement projects, one feature is that the roofs of deteriorated houses have changed into modern ones to improve the aesthetics. The house repair project received highly satisfied feedback from local residents as it reflected their opinion and needs by maintaining smooth communication between city administration and local residents.

Lastly, Suwon aimed to revitalize the local economy through the influx of tourists. The city collaborated with Buksu-dong Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in Suwon, to tear down the cathedral’s backwall to make a new passageway. Through this passage, tourists who have left the Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung Palace can now directly enter the King’s Alley, which established a new tourist course that connects the Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, Buksu-dong Cathedral, King’s Alley, Oullim Center, Mural Painting Alley, Haenggungdungi Brewery, and Hwahongmun Gate.

+ OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS

The Haenggung-dong Urban Regeneration Project has contributed to improving the landscape of the residential areas and fostering the capacity for its residents to independently manage the town, enhancing local competitiveness. Also, connecting the sharing economy with the urban regeneration project has ensured the vitality of the local economy, restoring the town’s energy. As such, the project is bringing about tangible results.

A total of ninety-eight (98) houses were repaired for landscape improvement. Old roofs, tiles, exterior walls, gates, and fences that had been covered with makeshift repair materials were transformed into a look more fitting for Suwon Hwaseong Fortress. The House Repair Project has been recognized as a project with deep mutual satisfaction between the city administration and residents.

Also, thanks to the Alley Specialization Project, the main street, alleyway pavements and old stairs were improved. With lights installed on the floor and murals painted on the retaining walls, alleyways transformed into friendly paths where anyone would like to take a stroll.

The King’s Alley Specialization Project has contributed to creating a tourism route passing through Suwoncheon Stream and Buksu-dong Cathedral to the Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung Palace. The area has become a tourist destination comparable to Haengridan-road and is expected to play a major role in revitalizing the local economy.

Another meaningful measure of progress is that, through the regeneration project, residents voluntarily formed cooperatives and enthusiastically participated in activities to restore the town’s vitality. Resident-led cooperatives ensure that this urban regeneration project will be sustainable in the future rather than merely temporary.

1) Haenggung Village Management Social Cooperative: In order to carry out the Haenggung-dong urban regeneration project, the Haenggung-dong Urban Regeneration Revitalization Resident Council was formed in 2017, which has developed into a Haenggung Village Management Social Cooperative. The Cooperative was established to reinvigorate the town by the residents themselves, to secure the sustainability of the urban regeneration project, and enhance the sense of community through the operation of a cafe and an exhibition shop.

2) Suwon Brewery Cooperative: To make traditional brew, Haenggungdoongi, Haenggung-dong residents set up a cooperative brewery through benchmarking, education, discussion and practice for over two years to officially produce and sell the traditional brew. As a local company led by local residents, it is planning to employ local assets including town elders to connect workshops and experience centers with local artists. When the traditional brew successfully enters the market and succeeds in commercialization, it is projected to bring returns to the village by reinvesting into the town.

3) Namsu Village Cooperative: It was created to reinvest the profits generated by the elderly through the operation of Namsu-dong Elderly Studio and donate them to neighbors in need.

+ REPLICABILITY AND SCALABILITY

Haenggung-dong has accumulated a large governance capacity of residents’ participation through EcoMobility Suwon 2013 and 2014 Suwon Village Renaissance Project. When establishing the urban regeneration plan, the city of Suwon sought to collect and reflect the opinions of the residents in the repesctive sites through governance and communication with them, which promotes residents’ participation. This project is replicable in other cities by forming progreesive public-private partnerships including public-private cooperation and sufficient consultation with residents.