Seoul City Allows Neighborhood Facilities Such as Restaurants and Cafes Along Gyeongui Line Forest Trail in Yeonnam-dong

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] Cafes, restaurants, and other neighborhood living facilities will be allowed to be established along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail and major streets in Yeonnam-dong, Seoul.

On the 22nd, Seoul City announced that it held the '3rd Urban Architecture Joint Committee Delegated Subcommittee' last month and approved the revision of the Human Town Type 1 District Unit Plan decision (amendment) in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu.

The city explained that following the opening of the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail Park in 2015, due to rapid increases in floating population and revitalization of surrounding commercial areas, the district unit plan was reorganized this time. Accordingly, the district name will also be changed to 'Yeonnam-dong District Unit Planning Area.'

With the possibility of constructing various neighborhood living facilities such as cafes and restaurants along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail Park, the commercial functions that were previously disconnected in the center of the park will expand throughout the park area, and restaurants will be allowed to operate along major roads inside the district, which is expected to revitalize the commercial district.

The southern and northern sides of the target area have transformed into resting spaces visited by many citizens with unique places such as restaurants and cafes since the opening of the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail, but due to use restrictions, it was difficult for the commercial district to expand into the target area.

Through this district unit plan amendment, general restaurants will be permitted in buildings along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail Park, and general restaurants will be allowed to operate mainly on the lower floors along major roads inside the target area.

Additionally, considering the trend of increasing floating population, a limited vehicle entry prohibition zone and a relaxed parking lot installation standard area will be designated along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail Park, and a pedestrian-priority road will be newly established inside the target area to improve the pedestrian environment and induce street activation. When cafes, restaurants, and other designated recommended uses are introduced on the first floors of buildings along the forest trail, parking lot installation standards can be relaxed by 50%, and Seongmisan-ro 32-gil to Seongmisan-ro 31-gil, which runs through the target area, will be converted into pedestrian-priority roads.

Yeo Jang-kwon, Director of the Balanced Development Headquarters, said, "Yeonnam-dong's district unit plan was reorganized considering the changed local conditions and residents' opinions following the completion of the Human Town project and the activation of the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail. We will continue to flexibly ease existing regulations to resolve citizen inconveniences."

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