JEJU CITY – The Jeju Island Council is reigniting discussions on a potential national garden project, following a previous attempt that was abandoned in 2019.

The topic resurfaced during a council meeting on February 18th, where Song Young-hoon, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, proposed revisiting the idea to revitalize the island's struggling tourism sector.

Citing the success of the Suncheon Bay National Garden, a major attraction that drew nearly 10 million visitors and generated significant economic benefits, Song suggested that a similar project could boost Jeju's economy.

"I propose that we re- 추진 the 'Jeju-style National Garden' project, which was 추진 in 2019 but was halted," Song stated.

A History of Controversy

Jeju's pursuit of a national garden dates back to 2017, when the island initiated a feasibility study to transform the Mulyeongari Oreum area, a designated Ramsar wetland, into a national garden.

However, the study faced heavy criticism for proposing ideas that seemed out of sync with Jeju's unique characteristics.

One controversial suggestion was to create a panda habitat, based on the notion that the area's climate and abundant bamboo growth would make it an ideal environment for the animals.

Other proposals included planting non-native species and installing a circular train within the garden, leading critics to argue that the project resembled a theme park rather than a national garden.

Facing mounting opposition, the study's authors eventually retracted the panda proposal and presented alternative plans that incorporated elements of Jeju's mythology.

Yet, these revised plans also drew criticism for allegedly commercializing local legends for development purposes.

Ultimately, the national garden project was quietly shelved in 2019.

A New Beginning?

Now, six years later, the project is back on the table. It remains to be seen whether the Jeju Island Council will take concrete steps to revive the initiative.

The outcome will likely depend on whether the council can address the concerns that led to the project's previous abandonment and develop a plan that truly reflects Jeju's natural and cultural heritage.