Citizens Wish for Gwanghwamun Square: "A People-Centered, Walkable, Park-Like Place"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] The image of Gwanghwamun Square that Seoul citizens desire is a "people-centered," "walkable," and "park-like" place. The city reflects these opinions and will gradually promote the full pedestrianization of Gwanghwamun Square.

Since announcing in September last year that it would not be bound by the project schedule for the restructuring of Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul City conducted citizen communication both online and offline until the end of the year.

A total of 61 sessions involving 12,115 citizens were conducted in four main ways: a "citizen grand debate" focused on citizen participation, "public debates" with civic groups and experts by topic, "on-site communication" with local residents, and "online communication" to share opinions on the desired image of Gwanghwamun Square. The debate proceedings were broadcast live in real time via "Live Seoul" so that anyone could watch regardless of location. All information about Gwanghwamun Square, including opinions discussed at the debates, was disclosed through the Gwanghwamun Square online platform.

Seoul citizens generally agreed on the need for changes to the current Gwanghwamun Square. According to the citizen feedback, 70-80% of respondents agreed on "the problems of the current square and the necessity of its redevelopment." The current square, stigmatized as a "huge central divider," is inconvenient for people to approach and enjoy on foot, and being surrounded by vehicles makes conversation difficult due to noise and exhaust fumes. During scorching heat, the lack of trees and shade was pointed out as a problem that makes it difficult for citizens to use the square in daily life.

Most citizens agreed that the future Gwanghwamun Square should be people-centered rather than vehicle-centered, aiming to become a fully pedestrianized square where anyone can freely walk without being cut off by roads. During the discussions, various methods were proposed, including gradual changes through traffic observation, reducing traffic volume by imposing congestion charges in the city center, and promoting restrictions on private car traffic. Most experts and civic groups participating as panelists also unanimously recommended a fully pedestrianized square.

However, many opinions emphasized that if the fully pedestrianized square is created all at once, practical issues such as citizen inconvenience arising from the current square’s structure should be considered, and thus it should be implemented step by step. Most participants suggested temporarily experiencing the fully pedestrianized square while simultaneously monitoring traffic issues by initially expanding part of the square. In the second citizen grand debate discussing this method, 64.9% of attendees preferred the short-term plan of creating a "west-side one-sided square" by pedestrianizing the road on the Sejong Center side.

Citizens strongly expressed the desire for the new Gwanghwamun Square to be a "park-like square that can be enjoyed in daily life." Participating citizens suggested creating a square where people can comfortably take walks, children can run and play, and couples and families can frequently visit, similar to an urban park.

Local residents and citizens strongly demanded that measures to address traffic inconvenience and noise caused by rallies, protests, and events?currently the biggest problems of the square?be prioritized when creating the new Gwanghwamun Square. During on-site communication with five nearby neighborhoods conducted in November last year, local residents claimed that rallies and protests near the square threaten their livelihoods and that fundamental countermeasures are necessary. Big data analysis of opinions collected through Online Democracy Seoul also showed that "protests" and "traffic" were the most frequently mentioned problems of the current square.

There were also opinions that Gwanghwamun Square should not be limited to the square itself but expanded to the surrounding area in line with its status as a "national center," and that a future-oriented plan should be prepared. Experts participating in the debates stated that a comprehensive plan is needed not only for the area around the square but also for the entire Gwanghwamun area, including Bukchon, Seochon, Sajik-dong, Jongno, and City Hall. Recently, civic groups have also argued that by establishing a plan for the entire surrounding area including the square, the benefits of the square project should be shared by all Seoul citizens.

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