Daegu’s Suseong District to Open “Meditation & Healing Center” Along the Geumho River in November
Suseong District of Daegu is making mental health improvement among residents its key policy project and has directly built a meditation hub facility at the entrance to Geumho River in Gomo-dong. It is tentatively called the “Road to Hold Thoughts Healing Center.” It is scheduled to move toward an official opening after a pilot operation in November.
Suseong District invested 3.759 billion won and in January built a center building with two above-ground floors in Gomo-dong. For a pilot operation in November and an official opening, the district is currently in the thick of an interior facilities construction project.
Established a basic plan for “Road to Hold Thoughts” under the 2019 Suseong District Urban Uniqueness Promotion Ordinance
The concept for Suseong District’s meditation hub is not an impromptu project. Its roots trace back to the “Suseong District Urban Uniqueness Promotion Ordinance” enacted in 2019. Under the ordinance’s aim to grow values unique to the city, Suseong District carried out a service contract to develop the basic plan for “Road to Hold Thoughts” and has been refining meditation and humanities education into part of the city’s identity.
The Healing Center is the outcome of that policy direction. Suseong District designated the facility as a key policy project to improve residents’ mental health and made its plan clear to develop it into a “meditation hub代表 of the region,” beyond a simple resting space. In other words, meditation has become a long-term task that city administration takes responsibility for and drives forward.
A place held by the Geumho River, standing on the “Road to Hold Thoughts”
The site where the Healing Center will be located is a segment of the eco-friendly walking trail “Road to Hold Thoughts” that Suseong District has cultivated for a long time. Connecting the Gosan area and the Jisan Beommul area, the trail spans the Geumho River and Jinbjeonggol, and was built along green resources that account for about 74% of the district’s total area. Six courses—including the Geumho River Road and Maeho Stream Road, Yeonho Road, Gomo Station Road, Naegwanji Road, and Jinbjeonggol Road—give residents time to reflect. The Healing Center sets up its location near the Phalsan Eco Park, at the start of Course 1 of the Geumho River Road.
In a place where a river flows within walking distance and the woods are lush, even people who find the word “meditation” somewhat grand can easily lower their guard and settle their minds here.
A cup of tea, meditation, and time for “Gyeong” (敬)
The Healing Center was built with a total project cost of 3.759 billion won on a site area of 1,162㎡ and an overall floor area of about 295㎡. Inside the building, it will include a meditation classroom, a Tea (Tea) lounge, and a rooftop meditation space. A separate branding service contract was carried out to specify the operating direction, covering design of interior spaces and placement of furniture, the center’s name and slogan, and content that integrates tea and meditation.
The operating programs weave traditional meditation, tea culture, and physical training into one. Suseong District Mayor Kim Dae-gwon previously described tea by saying, “At first it was medicine, but as time passed it became a tool for modern people to cultivate their minds.” The explanation adds that the programs are not one-off experiences that end after drinking tea with experts, but are instead designed as programs to relieve stress and build the pillars of one’s mind.
Plans to develop mental health programs for residents and complete a high-quality meditation platform
The Healing Center puts the values of “self establishment” and “Gyeong (敬)” at the center, beyond being a simple resting space. It places weight on developing mental health programs to help people hold their own center even if the external environment shakes them.
A person from the Suseong District Office said, “The more an era in which AI quickly replaces human territory, the more important humans’ unique sense and mental values become,” adding, “We will complete a high-quality meditation platform that helps residents overcome self-alienation and protect their independent mental health.”
Pilot operation in November, as a downtown meditation hub
The project that began with the ordinance has gradually taken shape. The district purchased privately owned land in 2023, completed the design and started construction last year, and finished construction work earlier this year. Branding and content development are currently underway, and after refining the program through the November pilot operation, it will move into an official opening.
Suseong District plans to leverage the geographic characteristics that combine the Geumho River and forests to grow it into a healing space that both citizens and tourists come to, and further develop it as a waterfront cultural attraction that connects to the Geumho River tourism belt. Walking along the river, stopping for a moment to drink a cup of tea, and choosing one’s breathing. A place where those ordinary actions become part of daily life will soon open along the Geumho River.