Zoning classes for forest visual landscape management in and around Pyeongchang Winter Olympic area: focused on Alpensia district in the city of Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do

Abstract

Korea is preparing to host the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. The region surrounding Pyeongchang mostly consists of forested areas. To manage this region, it is necessary to design a process designating different management areas such as those allowing the formation of artificial and concentrated landscapes and restricted areas for conservation of the landscape. This study identifies methods for analyzing the degree of forest landscape management and level of visual sensitivity and subdivides the visible areas surrounding the region where the Winter Olympics will be held into different classes. As a result, four different classes were subdivided and the areas were divided into conservation zones, buffer zone 1, buffer zone 2, and transitional zones. The areas in the fourth class (transitional zone), where artificial and aggressive forest landscape management is possible, were primarily subjected to frequent movement and high levels of use. These areas included roads, city streets, areas surrounding the stadiums, accommodation facilities, and the observatory. It will be necessary at a later date to conduct an itemized and more detailed analysis regarding forest landscape design to create landscapes that correspond to the characteristics of the region in each subdivision.