Busan Citizens Park

The ground beneath Busan Citizens Park holds layers of history that mirror the complex evolution of South Korea itself. Once a landscape dominated by a horse racing track under Japanese colonial rule, the site shifted drastically after the Second World War. By 1945, it became Camp Hialeah, an American military base that stood as a strategic pillar for U.S. forces in East Asia. For over sixty years, this area remained an off-limits, high-security zone, disconnected from the life of the local community that grew up around its perimeter. The departure of the U.S. military in 2006 marked a transformative moment for Busan. What was once a place of military command and logistics began the arduous process of rebirth. Years of debate and environmental remediation were required to clear away the remnants of decades of industrial and military use. The vision for the future was clear: to return this massive plot of land to the people of Busan, converting a symbol of exclusion into a beacon of civic freedom and recreation. Today, the park serves as a testament to reconciliation and urban renewal. By repurposing structures like the historic Quonset huts, the city has managed to honour the military heritage of the site without letting it define the future. Visitors walking through the lush, thematic gardens and reflective ponds find a space that feels deeply personal to the locals, a place where the rigid lines of the past have been softened by trees, flowers, and the laughter of families. It is a triumphant example of a city reclaiming its land and inviting the public to walk paths that were once strictly off-limits.