Colonial period quarry to turn into public park

A quarry used during the Japanese colonial era will turn into a public park as part of Seoul City’s urban restoration project, officials said Sunday.

Seoul Metropolitan Government said a 19,000-square-meter-large quarry cutting area in Jongno will transform into a sightseeing park with an observatory. The cutting side of a 40-meter-high stone pit will be the main ground of the park.

The stones quarried were used in constructing historical buildings such as the Japanese Government General of Korea, Bank of Korea, former Seoul Station and former Seoul City Hall.

The quality of granite was outstanding and the location of the quarry was easily accessible at that time, the city said.

As the quarry closed after Korea’s independence in 1945, people formed a community in the site around the 1960s.

This is part of the city’s long-term urban restoration pushed by Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon.

While changing the site to a park, the city is also considering establishing a recycling center and a culture center to attract visitors.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)