Changwon Seeks Public Ideas to Fix Infamous 'Big Tree' Building

Changwon City is seeking public input to salvage a controversial 34.4 billion won architectural project known as 'Big Tree.' The structure, intended to be a landmark in the Daesang Park, has become infamous for its unappealing design. During a two-week temporary opening last August, 85% of 1,868 visitors expressed negative opinions about its appearance, with some even calling for its demolition. Consequently, the city indefinitely postponed the official opening, initially slated for October 1st.

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Please find ways to improve the 'ugly but famous' Big Tree.

In an effort to find solutions, Changwon City is launching a public contest for improvement ideas. The competition is open to all South Korean citizens and aims to gather creative and practical suggestions for enhancing the Big Tree's exterior, safety, usability, and overall appeal. Submissions will be reviewed, with results announced next month, though the city may extend the contest if proposals are deemed insufficient.

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We are holding a 'Daesang Park Big Tree Improvement Citizen Idea Contest' to discover fresh and feasible citizen ideas to improve the Big Tree's appearance and environment, and to make it a representative landmark of Changwon loved by citizens.

The Big Tree is a 40-meter-tall building constructed as part of a special project for Daesang Park. The private developer is responsible for building park facilities, including the Big Tree, and will construct non-park facilities like apartments on the remaining land to generate profit. The city envisioned the structure as a symbol of Changwon, but public reception has been overwhelmingly negative. The situation has been further complicated by a city audit that led to a criminal complaint against the private developer over potentially inflated construction costs, drawing international media attention and solidifying the Big Tree's reputation as an 'ugly but famous' building.

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85% of respondents evaluated the Big Tree's overall appearance negatively.

Officials acknowledge the difficulty in finding solutions that meet public expectations, especially for a complete exterior overhaul. The contest seeks practical ideas focusing on aesthetics, safety, convenience, and utility. While the selection criteria include feasibility, creativity, and practicality, specific details regarding the review process, committee, and funding for improvements are still under consideration. The city anticipates the earliest possible official opening will be sometime next year.

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There are still many details to review, such as the eligibility review criteria, the composition of the working-level review committee, the participation scale to determine if additional contests will be held, and the method of securing improvement costs.