Seoul City Expands 'Waterfront Sensory City'... 30 Sites to Be Developed by 2025

At Least One Site Established per Autonomous District

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 20th that it will expand the ‘Seoul-style Waterfront Sensibility City,’ which reorganizes the waterfront spaces of 332 km of small streams and rivulets flowing throughout the city into water (Su) zones, across the entire city. The plan is to create a total of 30 sites by 2025, with at least one site in each autonomous district.

Since Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced the promotion of four pilot projects for the ‘Seoul-style Waterfront Sensibility City’ in April last year, Seoul has been steadily establishing waterfront vitality hubs at a total of 20 locations, including Dorimcheon in Dongjak-gu, Bulgwangcheon in Seodaemun-gu, and Seongbukcheon in Seongbuk-gu, about 10 months later.

Following the creation of a ‘waterfront open-air cafe’ in front of the artificial waterfall in the midstream of Hongjecheon, one of the pilot projects completed last November, five waterfront attractions with various themes will be unveiled by the end of this year.

The five sites to be opened to the public this year are ▲Hongjecheon upstream in Jongno-gu, ▲Dorimcheon in Gwanak-gu, ▲Segokcheon in Gangnam-gu, ▲Dorimcheon in Dongjak-gu, ▲and Bulgwangcheon in Seodaemun-gu. All have completed basic and detailed designs, with construction starting in April and finishing by December.

▲Jeongneungcheon in Dongdaemun-gu, ▲Godeokcheon in Gangdong-gu, ▲Bulgwangcheon in Eunpyeong-gu, ▲and Seongnaecheon in Songpa-gu are currently undergoing basic and detailed design reflecting the characteristics of each area, aiming to start construction this year.

Lastly, the 10 sites scheduled to complete design by this year are ▲Seongbukcheon in Seongbuk-gu, ▲Gupabalcheon in Eunpyeong-gu, ▲Danghyeoncheon in Nowon-gu, ▲Jangjicheon in Songpa-gu, ▲Anyangcheon in Geumcheon-gu, ▲Yangjaecheon in Gangnam-gu, ▲Uicheon in Gangbuk-gu, ▲Jungnangcheon in Seongdong-gu, ▲Yeoeicheon in Seocho-gu, and ▲Anyangcheon in Guro-gu. The goal is to complete basic and detailed designs this year and finish all construction by 2024.

Meanwhile, to expand waterfront vitality hubs throughout the city, Seoul has been continuously conducting additional public contests targeting autonomous districts since February this year. By the end of this year, more than 10 remaining sites will be selected, and projects will be carried out sequentially within the secured budget.

To ensure smooth project progress, Seoul plans to provide full support throughout the entire process for the selected project sites. Each site will receive an investment of 3 billion KRW, and for autonomous districts requiring strengthened project plans, Seoul will also support planning and design under its supervision.

Kwon Wan-taek, Director of the Water Circulation Safety Bureau of Seoul, said, “Through the expansion of waterfront vitality hubs, citizens will be able to enjoy a higher level of leisure and cultural activities in waterfront spaces close to their living areas,” adding, “We expect that the ‘Seoul-style Waterfront Sensibility City’ and the ‘Hangang Renaissance 2.0’ projects will enhance Seoul’s urban appeal and competitiveness centered on the waterfront.”

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