Seoul Plaza Surrounded by Pine Forest, Enjoying the Autumn Sky Without Exhaust Fumes

Completion of Phase 1 Project for Seoul Gwangjang Forest Development

Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall has been surrounded by pine trees and flowers. As part of the 'Garden City, Seoul' project promoted by Mayor Oh Se-hoon, citizens walking through the plaza will now be able to enjoy seasonal and vibrant scenery instead of being exposed to vehicle exhaust and noise from the road.

Seoul City announced on the 10th that it has completed the first phase of the ‘Seoul Plaza Forest Creation Project,’ which began in the first half of this year. The project involved creating a 748㎡ green belt around the lawn at Seoul Plaza, planting pine trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Construction started in April this year and was initially scheduled to be completed within the first half of the year, but due to archaeological surveys and excavations, the timeline was extended, and pine tree planting was completed last October.

Seoul Plaza is a popular spot for many citizens, hosting various events and festivals such as ‘Reading at Seoul Plaza,’ cultural performances, and street cheering. However, during non-event times, it remained a large empty space with low utilization, and due to road noise, exhaust fumes, and a lack of resting facilities, it was used merely as a passageway rather than a place to stay. The lawn plaza, created in 2004, faced issues at the time of opening, including a lack of shade and amenities, and safety concerns due to its proximity to the road.

The newly created Seoul Plaza Forest serves as a buffer zone between the road and the plaza, providing psychological comfort to plaza users who were previously exposed to vehicle exhaust and noise without protection. Connected to the ‘Sejong-daero People’s Forest Path’ and tree and flower paths, it is expected to revitalize the surrounding office workers, visitors, and merchants by bringing life and energy back to the area.

As part of the Garden City Seoul initiative, the city plans to introduce forests and gardens to representative plazas in Seoul to offer citizens richer green landscapes. Following the first phase of the Seoul Plaza Forest creation, the city plans to expand the forest to create a sustainable plaza where anyone can comfortably rest.

The second phase of the plaza forest creation project is already underway, with basic and detailed design services initiated in October. The plan is to connect the green axis from Gwanghwamun Square to the ‘Sejong-daero People’s Forest Path,’ preserving the symbolism and place identity of historical culture while reviewing multifaceted measures to efficiently respond to changing urban conditions.

Yu Young-bong, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Green City Leisure Bureau, said, “Through the first phase of the plaza forest creation at Seoul Plaza, we have created a buffer zone between the road and the plaza, offering vitality and energy to citizens with trees and flowers. We hope Seoul Plaza will be reborn as Seoul’s representative citizen cultural space.”

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