Jinju Selects Design for Shelter and Park at Jeongchon Dinosaur Footprint Fossil Site

Joint Proposal by Aea Architects and Buun Architects Wins; 19.6 Billion Won Project Budget
Site Area of 13,450 Square Meters and Total Floor Area of 1,667 Square Meters; Construction Targeted to Begin in 2028
Project to Preserve Natural Monument Fossils and Create Exhibition and Educational Facilities

Jinju City in South Gyeongsang Province has selected the winning design for a shelter and park project aimed at preserving and making use of the Jeongchon dinosaur footprint fossil site, which is designated as a Natural Monument.

The city announced on October 21 that it had selected as the final winning design a proposal jointly submitted by Aea Architects and Buun Architects in the architectural design competition for the “Jeongchon Fossil Site Shelter and Park Development Project,” and had held an awards ceremony and briefing for the winners.

[Photo provided by Jinju City] At an award ceremony and briefing for the winner of the architectural design competition for the Jeongchon Fossil Site Protective Pavilion and Park Development Project, officials and others involved listen to an explanation of the project plans and winning design.

The project site is a dinosaur footprint fossil site within the Root Industry Complex in Jeongchon-myeon, Jinju. Fossilized footprints of various vertebrates that lived about 112 million years ago, during the Cretaceous Period of the Mesozoic Era, were discovered here during construction of the industrial complex.

The fossil site was designated a Natural Monument, a nationally designated cultural heritage, in 2021 in recognition of its academic and natural-history value.

Jinju City plans to build a shelter to prevent damage to the fossil site and ensure its stable preservation and management, while also developing exhibition facilities and a park in the surrounding area.

The shelter will protect the fossils from the external environment. The city plans to create educational and visitor spaces centered on the shelter, where visitors can learn about how the fossils were formed and their natural-history value. A total of 10 teams submitted proposals for the design competition.

Following a preliminary review on September 23 and a full review on September 29, the city selected a total of five proposals, including the winning design. During the competition, an on-site briefing was also held to assess the characteristics of the project site and its links to the surrounding spaces.

The judging committee praised the winning design for expressing the shelter’s form and function simply and for linking pedestrian routes to Ppuri Park, allowing visitors to access it from different directions.

In particular, the layout’s consideration of connections between the fossil protection facility and the surrounding park facilities was a key evaluation factor. The Jeongchon Fossil Site Shelter and Park Development Project is expected to require a total project budget of 19.6 billion won.

The project will cover a site of 13,450 square meters, with a total floor area of about 1,667 square meters, and include a fossil protection facility, exhibition and educational spaces, and surrounding park facilities.

The winner of the competition will be granted the architectural design rights. Jinju City plans to begin detailed design services in October 2026 and complete the design by July 2027.

After completing the relevant administrative procedures, the city plans to begin construction in 2028 and complete the project in 2029.

“The Jeongchon Fossil Site shelter and park project is intended to protect the dinosaur footprint fossils designated as a Natural Monument and make them available for educational use,” said Jinju Mayor Cho Kyu-il. “We will work with public architects and other experts to develop a design that takes both fossil preservation and the facilities’ usability into account.”

Meanwhile, Jinju City plans to continue its efforts to attract the National Geological Heritage Center, a branch of the National Institute of Natural Heritage, after the preliminary feasibility study for the institute—which the Korea Heritage Service is pursuing in Eulsukdo, Busan—passed in July 2026.

Through the Jeongchon Fossil Site Shelter and Park Development Project and its efforts to attract the National Geological Heritage Center, Jinju City is considering ways to preserve the region’s geological and natural heritage and use it as an educational and tourism resource.

The Jeongchon Fossil Site Shelter and Park Development Project is drawing attention because it seeks to both preserve the dinosaur footprint fossils designated as a Natural Monument and make them available for educational and tourism purposes.

However, given the total project budget of 19.6 billion won, the city will need to develop detailed plans for maintenance costs after the facilities are built, visitor use, and connections with the surrounding park, while prioritizing the preservation of the fossils in their original condition.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.