[Anchor] We hear news that Changwon's "Big Tree," which has been criticized as an eyesore costing over 30 billion won, is going to undergo a complete transformation?
[Reporter] Yes, the Big Tree is an artificial tree observatory in Changwon.
It was originally pursued as a symbolic facility for Daesan Park, inspired by Singapore's famous tourist attraction, Gardens by the Bay.
During the construction process, concerns arose that it could be vulnerable to natural disasters, leading to design changes. As a result, the main tree sculptures and branch structures on the upper section were removed, leaving it completed in a form vastly different from the original rendering.
Given the massive project cost of 34.4 billion won, expectations were high, but following its completion, criticisms poured in calling it an "eyesore."
In response, the Changwon city government recently held a contest for ideas to improve the Big Tree, selecting 8 proposals out of a total of 190 submissions.
The top prize went to an idea proposing to remove the artificial tree at the top of the 40-meter-tall Big Tree and build a cylindrical indoor observation facility and cafe in its place.
The Changwon city government plans to finalize a concrete improvement plan within this year and complete the remodeling by the second half of 2028.
(Photo courtesy of Changwon City)
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