#130 A New Park for Busan

[스티븐스 대사]

Some of you have heard me and other American officials talk about adapting our alliance and the U.S. military presence in the Republic of Korea to reflect today’s realities.  What does that mean?  In part, it means reducing and consolidating the U.S. military installation footprint in Korea, particularly in large urban areas that have grown and thrived over the past half-century.  One good example is in Busan, where Camp Hialeah – originally a horse-racing track during the Japanese occupation – was a U.S. Army installation that was important for the defense of the Republic of Korea during and after the Korean War. 

Historic roof of the old Officer’s Club: The red and white is the rising sun of the Japanese Empire, painted by the Japanese when the land was used as a racetrack, and later by the Japanese Imperial Army.  When the U.S. took over, the 8th Army seal (with the red stars) was placed at the center of the sun.

Former helipad at the Camp Hialeah site

“The Pusan Panthers,” the center of the Busan American School gym floor

In April 2010, thousands flocked to Hialeah during its first public opening in 100 years.

Children made chalk drawings in front of the theatre.  One says: “Please preserve Hialeah.”

By the 21^st century, though, we realized we could consolidate the work of Camp Hialeah elsewhere.  Today, it makes more sense for the valuable land of Camp Hialeah to be used by Busan citizens.  I’m happy to report success:  Today, the site is being transformed into a world-class public space called the Busan Citizens Park.

I have a special connection to Camp Hialeah.  As principal officer at the U.S. Consulate in Busan from 1987 to 1989, I lived at Camp Hialeah, and I have fond memories of my time there. 

Tracking down my memories of Busan, I found a copy of a commencement speech I made at the Busan American High School graduation ceremony in 1988.  For those who are interested, here is the text of that address.

  Busan commencement speech.pdf

Camp Hialeah in 1988; in front of our house, and the hills surrounding, now filled with high-rise buildings

The U.S. closed its operation at Camp Hialeah in 2006, but negotiations for returning the land to the Republic of Korea were still ongoing when I arrived as Ambassador in 2008.  It wasn’t until the end of 2009 – we were literally working until New Year’s Eve – that we hammered out the agreement that would finally turn the Camp into the Busan Citizens Park. My colleagues at the U.S. Embassy and I worked closely with Busan Mayor Hur Nam-Sik as well as central government officials to make it happen.   

At the groundbreaking ceremony for Busan Citizens Park

On August 11, 2011, I was honored to be invited to join Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, Mayor Hur, Chairman of the Busan Metropolitan City Council Je Jong-mo, and a very large and enthusiastic crowd for the groundbreaking ceremony for Busan Citizens Park.  It was evident that everyone in the audience had high hopes for the park.

I don’t think they’ll be disappointed.  The park will be beautiful.  A famous American architect, James Corner, is leading the design process.  Top city government officials and journalists visited American parks, like the Presidio in San Francisco and Battery Park in New York City, to learn about park design.  I’m glad they visited the Presidio because I think it is a great example of how space can be transformed: what was formerly a U.S. military base on the Pacific Ocean was turned over to the American people.  Part of it is now a National Park, and the rest is run by a public-private trust.  Thousands of Americans visit each year and it is a part of the fabric of daily life for many San Franciscans.

But what I think sets the Busan Citizens Park apart from the rest is the democratic nature of its development.  Mayor Hur opened up the Park to the public to explore the grounds and to think about what kind of park they wanted to build before the process started.

The Mayor built consensus in the community, and gave citizens a say in their park.

The end result is something I might call the “Busan Model.”  It is my hope that other cities and provinces in Korea will look towards the “Busan Model” for inspiration in creating lasting, meaningful, purpose-built civic institutions for their communities on properties that formerly housed U.S. military installations.  As the U.S. military continues to reduce its footprint in Korea, I hope to see the “Busan model” replicated throughout the country.

The Busan Citizens Park is a fine example of what we can achieve when we work together.  I can’t wait to return to Busan in a few years to see the park when it opens to the public.