The way I look at how I think of parks in Korea

⚠ Warning : I'm not good at English

Now I'll show you three parks around downtown in Daegu
and tell how I think about those parks.

*From: OBS

This is Gukchae-Bosang Memorial Park(=Gukchae park).

- It has about 43,000 square meter and is the widest park of the three parks.
- It is apart from the main street
- there's a university hospital and a residential area around this park.
- There's some events like the countdown on December 31 and the night lighting on trees.

*From: daegu.go.kr

This is 2.28 Memorial Park(=2.28 Park).
- It has about 14,300 square meter and is located in the center of town
- There is a stage for citizen and some events on the stage.

*From: daegu.go.kr

Lastly this is  Gyeongsang-Gamyeong Park(=GG Park)
- It has about 16,500 square meter
- It is also apart from the main street but less than Gukchae Park.
- There is a industry and tool street called Bukseongno and amenities for the elderly.
- There are almost the whole senior citizens in GG Park and because of them, young people don't go to the park well 





And now I'll mumble about the detail of the parks.

Gukchae Park has wide sidewalks and is open to the view.

I think this two things raise quality of this park.
You couldn't understand why I stress this part
but a wide path is very important in a small country like us.

But 2.28 Park is different with Gukchae Park.
Although the park is small, there is  lots of trees, 
shrubs and grasses excessively.
 For those reasons, the park has narrow paths 
and the view of the park is very lowered inevitably

This space is in the Gukchae Park and 
I think this is nice because t
here are both sunshine and shade and enough privacy.
 But because of little shrubs blocking the view in 'B',
 it has much privacy more than needs.
So I just wish, removing those shrubs and being open to the view.

If you get into 'A', you could watch a view of 'B'.

Unlike the previous space(But the same park),
 this space is totally in the shade.

It is similar with the previous one but because of shade
 and the boring view it looks secluded.

2.28 Park has a stage and lots of water spaces.
I think the idea of making that stage is come 
from overseas countries' advanced examples
 but this small scale of the park is enough already full with 
trees, shrubs and water things.
 So It could've been better if they left the park amply.

It is the square of the Gukchae park.

Unlike other parks, there isn't a fountain or a statue.

There is basketball stands in the wide space.

Because of basketball stands, 
many people come to this park to play basketball and

sometimes there is a contest and because of people 
who play basketball this park looks more activated.

But if there isn't people playing basketball, 
like the picture, it looks very desolate.

*From: economicpost.co.kr

Gukchae park is located in the edge of the center of town.

That means the park isn't in pedestrian circulation(flow).

For that reason, many citizen don't go to the park naturally and 
the park is easily secluded especially when the weather isn't nice.

So the park try to gather people using Luminarie, beautiful lighting and a beautiful path.

But I just think if this park is connected to the center of town better and try to gather people when the weather is very hot and cold because when the weather is cool and warm, it's easy to gather citizen but if not, it's so so hard because of no reason to go to the park.
Anyway their efforts are very nice but I wish they make a long-term strategy.

Those bridge and traditional buildings are located in GG Park.

That bridge is the fact that it provides help to visually 

but also makes the park narrow.

And traditional buildings make this park look Korea 

and that means those buildings give this park identity

 but the buildings take up the park inefficiently 

because we can use the buildings.

Those benched are located in the direction of the park
 but they were located in the direction of the road in the old days.
I think the present direction is better than before 
because paths look wider.
But I feel the lack of the view of the park
 when I seat on the bench because of shrubs.

I think the most problem of Korean parks is this line thing.

Even though the park is small, 

they want to spread grass and plant shrubs

 making the park more and more narrow.

When trees are planted enough for citizen to rest in parks,

 I think, the rest of spaces will be used by people.

I wish don't think a park should be almost covered with 

nature like trees and grass.

+

Lastly

There isn't the standard way to make parks.

So I just wish, 

they make the park that is suitable for Korea and its weather.

and don't apply western parks to Korea

 because unlike the west, 

the grass is hard to grow in Korean weather 

and excessive trees and shrubs don't need in a small country, Korea 

and we have very very enough mountain and

 that means we have lots of nature all over the country.

And if they want to more activate parks, 

they should have to care about pedestrian flow to the parks.

Mumbling about Dongseongno Street in Daegu

⚠ Warning : I'm not good at English

*From: daegu.go.kr

Here is Dongseongno street.

Unlike other metropolitan cities, 

Daegu has only one distinct center of downtown, Dongseongno. 

Although there are bustling places, 

those aren't big and only for around citizen.

 As a result, Daegu government has tried to develop 

and develop that street intensively and 

now this street is much better than before

 but it still has things to be improved and is making a mistake.

Now I tell you my thoughts about Dongseongno st.

First

*From: imaeil.com and idaegu.com

This crosswalk has been made this year in 2013.

It is taking an important role 

because it is striking a balance between 'A' and 'B'

If you go toward 'A' more and more, 

there are much more facilities like stores and bars than 'B' side.

*From: joongang.joins.com

When there wasn't the crosswalk, people rarely went to 'B'side.

 Instead, they stayed in 'A' , around 'A' or used 

the underground shopping center(=USC) 

which is located in under the crosswalk.

So the government tried to make that crosswalk many times from old times

 but merchants in the underground opposed 

because if that's made, 

citizen couldn't use the USC and business could drop off.

 So the government decide to offer two escalators to the merchants.

But I really sad about government's action.

Originally, there wasn't the underground shopping center 

so stores on the ground was damaged economically

 and if the weather get cold and hot,

 people will use the USC unavoidably. 

*From: Naver

This is Seomeyon in Busan.

Here is being experienced like Dongseongno st.

But there is still not cross walks so if people wanna cross the road, 

they have to use the USC or detour about 0.3miles(0.5km).

Second

I think, These benches are misarranged. 

Arranging them in the middle of the street isn't the best way for people
who want to sit on them
because it's easy to get a look from people passing the street
 so they should take a rest caring about a glance not relaxedly.

And they make streets narrow.

So arranging and making benches in the middle might look nice and innovative
 but I think that shouldn't be a priority.

*From: fflickr.com/maltesenwordpresscom and thegridto.com

This arrangement is the best way for citizen.

They could rest without glares and comfortably
and watch people passing the street naturally.

*From: home.dk

this street is quiet different with Dongseongno.

It is clear and looks wide. 

This way of the street is good for Dongseongno st.

Third

This stage is too low
 so many people are hard to see people playing on the stage
when some event or performance go on. 

and Last

Can you believe these wastebaskets is now being used?
I'm really sad
why the government don't care about
this trivial but potential problem.
I'm sure that this one trivial problem
could damage the whole image of downtown.





*
Lastly
I'm sure that if every trial thing is ignored, this street will stand still forever.
It could look successful and beautiful but it will never last intactly.