BUYEO — Local leaders and veteran organizations in Buyeo-gun gathered this week to highlight the unique geographical and strategic advantages of positioning a new national veterans' cemetery (Ho-guk-won) within the county.

According to local authorities, the Buyeo-gun Veterans Association and the National Buyeo Ho-guk-won Bid Committee hosted a special seminar on November 11 at the Buyeo Cultural Center. The event drew a large audience of community members, veterans, and government officials to discuss why Buyeo stands as the prime choice for the upcoming Chungcheongnam-do national memorial project.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Park Kyung-jung, a renowned geo-spatial expert who previously contributed to the development of state burial grounds for former South Korean Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Kim Young-sam. Dr. Park also headed the Chungcheongnam-do site evaluation committee in 2024, during which Buyeo-gun outranked competing locations in Hongseong-gun and Dangjin-si to secure the top-priority recommendation.

During his presentation, Dr. Park reviewed the geographical conditions of all three contending regions through the lens of traditional East Asian landscape analysis (pungsu-jiri). He detailed why the proposed site in Hongyang-ri, Hongsan-myeon, offers exceptional suitability for a national sanctuary.

Dr. Park noted that the Buyeo location naturally fulfills core environmental principles, such as baesan-imsu (resting against elevated terrain while facing water) and jangpung-deuksu (optimal wind-sheltering topography). Citing the protective ridge of Bihongsan Mountain and nearby hydrological elements, he described the terrain as naturally harmonious and serene. Furthermore, the gentle slopes allow for flexible, eco-friendly landscape architecture, while Buyeo’s rich history as the final capital of the ancient Baekje Kingdom adds profound national and cultural symbolism.

"A national Ho-guk-won must be evaluated through a long-term lens—we must consider future expansion capabilities, infrastructure, and regional connectivity," Dr. Park remarked. He stressed that Buyeo boasts superior spatial capacity for future development alongside competitive advantages in transportation, including planned road expansions to streamline visitor access.

Organizers noted that the seminar provided a valuable platform for the community to explore the multifaceted benefits of the candidate site and reaffirm their shared commitment to establishing a dignified resting place honoring the noble sacrifices of South Korea's national heroes.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]