As a measure to develop sustainability in the border region, the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation conducted an environmental project in two stages together with the District of Goseong in 2005-2010.
Taking the “Green Belt” in Germany as a role model, the German style planning of spaces and environmental preservation was presented during the first, theoretical, stage in 2005-2007. Thomas Findeis, on of the key personalities in the realization of the inner-German ‘Green Belt’ at the Bavarian-Saxony border, visited Korea and explained the concepts of a natural educating trail in Goseong. Following that, representatives of the region came to Germany for deeper discussions on its implementation.
In the second stage 2008-2010 eventually, the practical realization was conducted. Unfortunately, due to the political situation between the North and the South, it was impossible to construct a trail right in the inner-Korean border, which is why the new trail was planned within relatively untouched woodland close to it. After a rather cold and long-lasting winter 2009/10 the groundbreaking ceremony was held a little belayed in March 2010 attended by the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation Korea and the director of the Institution Christian Hegemer. The construction works were successfully finished in May.
The new trail will serve as an information tool for the surrounding population and help to create the awareness for the development of the environment. Furthermore it shall give an impulse for the creation of a soft ecotourism.