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From Landfill Eyesore to Green Oasis: Seoul's Transformation
26 Aug
Summary
- Two trash mounds nearly 100 meters tall were transformed into parks.
- Methane gas extracted from the landfill now heats local buildings.
- Exotic species dominate the former landfill, displacing native plants.
For fifteen years, Seoul's Nanjido Island served as the city's primary waste disposal site, accumulating two enormous mounds of trash reaching nearly 100 meters in height. From March 1978 to March 1993, approximately 92 million cubic meters of waste were dumped, creating an area dubbed "Samdado" due to its dust, smell, and flies.
After waste dumping ceased in March 1993, a significant stabilization project began in January 1998 and concluded in October 2002. This involved constructing impermeable barriers, managing leachate, and installing 106 gas extraction wells. The extracted methane was repurposed, providing heating for public facilities and residential areas, generating over 8.7 billion Korean won in value.
By May 2002, the former landfill was transformed into the World Cup Park, a cluster of five public parks featuring football stadiums and recreational trails. This extensive restoration project, recognized internationally, turned a significant environmental problem into a celebrated success story of land reclamation and urban renewal.
