Sejong-daero 1.5km 'Representative Walking Distance' Created in Seoul … Reducing Lanes and Expanding Plaza

Reduction of 3 Lanes from Sejong-daero Intersection to City Hall, Sungnyemun, and Seoul Station Intersection
Daehanmun Square Doubled in Size to Create 'Historical and Cultural Plaza'... Pedestrian Path Connected in Sungnyemun Section

Aerial View of Sejong-daero Space Reorganization

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Sejong-daero in Seoul will be reborn as a 'representative pedestrian street' of Seoul, where citizens can walk comfortably and culture and history breathe.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 26th that starting next month, construction will begin on the 1.5 km section from Sejong-daero Intersection to Sungnyemun Intersection and Seoul Station Intersection, and the 'road space reorganization project' will be completed by the end of this year. This project involves reducing the number or width of lanes and creating pedestrian safety facilities, convenience facilities, green transportation such as bicycles, and shared transportation spaces in their place, transforming the car-centered traffic environment into a people-centered one.

Through the creation of a representative pedestrian street, Seoul aims to connect Sejong-daero’s iconic spots such as Gwanghwamun Square, Deoksugung Palace, Sungnyemun, and Seoul-ro 7017 into a walking path, and incorporate landscaping and historical content to develop it as a unique Seoul brand, similar to the Champs-?lys?es, the representative street of Paris, France.

To this end, the section from Sejong-daero Intersection to Seoul Station Intersection will first be reduced from the current 9-12 lanes to 7-9 lanes. In the space freed by the reduction of the roadway, a pedestrian area of 13,950㎡?more than twice the size of Seoul Plaza (6,449㎡)?will be created, and a dedicated bicycle lane will be established along the entire length of Sejong-daero.

The newly secured pedestrian space will be planted with 19 different species of trees, including Ippop trees, Zelkova trees, and Cheongdanpung (Korean maple), adding greenery to the city center. A multi-layered green zone of about 3,328㎡ will also be created, combining shrubs and herbaceous plants of various heights.

The sidewalk in front of Daehanmun will be widened to at least 6 meters, expanding the current 580㎡ historical and cultural plaza to more than twice its size. Various historical and cultural events will be held linking the historical and cultural plaza with the nearby Jeongdong-gil, and a walking course highlighting related history will also be developed.

Additionally, a 500㎡ pedestrian space will be newly created around Sungnyemun, and the crosswalk leading to Namdaemun Market will be relocated, significantly improving pedestrian accessibility.

The city expects that once the Sejong-daero space reorganization is completed, a 'triangle commercial belt' connecting Bukchang-dong, Namdaemun Market, and Seoul Station will be formed, strengthening pedestrian access to Namdaemun Market and revitalizing the surrounding depressed commercial areas.

Meanwhile, Seoul has completed the design of the core road space reorganization projects within the green transportation zone, including Euljiro, Chungmuro, and Changgyeonggung-ro, and plans to start construction in the second half of the year. Design work has also begun for space reorganization on Sogong-ro and Jangchungdan-ro.

Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul, said, "Sejong-daero has long been an important space representing our country. Through this reorganization project, from Gwanghwamun to Sungnyemun and Seoul-ro 7017, we will create Seoul’s representative pedestrian street symbolizing the 'walking city, Seoul' policy, enhancing tourism competitiveness and revitalizing the local economy."

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