Transforming G Valley into a Green Industrial Complex
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has initiated the “Garden Valley Project” with the aim of creating parks and green spaces within the former gray industrial complex known as G Valley (Guro·Gasan Digital Complex). This initiative seeks to provide residents and workers with areas for rest, relaxation, and recreation in an environment that has historically lacked such amenities.
On the 7th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it had completed the creation of a 7750㎡ street forest garden in the Guro-gu area. This marks the first achievement of the Garden Valley Project. The project is part of a broader effort to transform G Valley, a significant national industrial complex established in the 1960s, into a more sustainable and livable space.
G Valley spans an area of 192만㎡ across Guro-dong in Guro-gu and Gasandong in Geumcheon-gu. While it serves as a hub for companies and young professionals, there have been concerns about the near absence of parks and green spaces in its urban planning. This lack of green areas has led to limited opportunities for rest and leisure activities.
In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has outlined the Garden Valley Project, which will run from 2026 to 2030. The goal is to connect various parts of the industrial complex with green axes, transforming the gray industrial landscape into a vibrant green space. In an era where competitiveness is driven by the ability to attract and retain talented young professionals, expanding green spaces and rest areas is also seen as a strategic move.
The project includes plans to create a total of 10만㎡ of green space. This will consist of a “street forest garden (4만140㎡)” that utilizes roadside trees and understory greenery, and a “shared garden (6만909㎡)” that re-creates aging private open spaces as gardens. So far, the street forest garden has been completed by planting 18만3600 plants, including zelkova trees, hydrangeas, golden euonymus, gaura, verbena, and variegated hostas, along 7750㎡ of six units routes, including Digital-ro. In the second half of the year, another 1만410㎡ street forest garden is planned along five units routes in the Gasan Digital 1-ro area of Geumcheon-gu.
The shared gardens are also set to expand gradually. These gardens will re-create aging private open spaces as gardens by increasing green areas by up to 50% during maintenance. The ultimate goal is to create a total of 10만㎡ of green space by 2030.
Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who visited the street forest garden and shared garden sites, emphasized the significance of the project. He stated, “The Garden Valley Project is a new urban innovation project that transforms industrial complexes not just into workspaces but into green spaces where citizens can stay, walk, rest, and enjoy daily vitality.” He added, “By gradually expanding gardens and green spaces until 2030, we will transform G Valley, once a symbol of gray cities, into a green industrial complex representing Seoul and a flagship space of Seoul as a global garden city.”
Benefits of the Garden Valley Project
- Enhanced Quality of Life: The introduction of green spaces provides residents and workers with areas to relax, socialize, and enjoy nature.
- Attracting Talent: By creating a more attractive and livable environment, the project aims to draw in and retain skilled young professionals.
- Sustainable Development: The transformation of industrial spaces into green areas supports environmental sustainability and urban resilience.
- Community Engagement: Shared gardens encourage community interaction and foster a sense of belonging among residents.
The Garden Valley Project represents a forward-thinking approach to urban development, blending industrial functionality with the benefits of green spaces. As the project progresses, it is expected to significantly enhance the quality of life in G Valley and contribute to Seoul’s vision as a global garden city.
