Operation of Car-Free 'Pedestrian Safety Zone' on Yeonmujang-gil, Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu

From August 31, for three months, every Saturday from 1 PM to 5 PM, partial traffic allowed for residents, full-time workers' vehicles, and motorcycles on Yeonmujang 5-gil 4 to Yeonmujang-gil 56-1 section and Yeonmujang 5-gil 7 section to minimize inconvenience; paired model drivers and signal operators deployed... Continuous traffic complaints due to concentrated holiday pedestrian volume around Yeonmujang-gil; 82% approval in survey following April 27 pilot operation

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced that it will temporarily operate the ‘Seongdong-type Pedestrian Safety Zone,’ which restricts vehicle traffic on certain sections of Yeonmujang-gil in Seongsu-dong.

The district will limit vehicle traffic on the sections from Yeonmujang 5-gil 4 to Yeonmujang-gil 56-1 and Yeonmujang 5-gil 7 every Saturday from 1 PM to 5 PM (4 hours) for about three months, from August 31 to November 30.

Usually, the Yeonmujang-gil area experiences concentrated pedestrian traffic on weekends and holidays, mixed with vehicles, increasing the risk of accidents. Consequently, there have been continuous requests for changes in the traffic system in the area, such as car-free streets and one-way traffic designations.

Seongdong-gu introduced the ‘Seongdong-type Pedestrian Safety Zone’ after careful consideration of alternative measures, as designating Yeonmujang-gil as a pedestrian-only road, or so-called ‘car-free street,’ would cause inconvenience to residents and full-time workers in the area. The ‘Seongdong-type Pedestrian Safety Zone’ is a specialized pedestrian safety project that partially allows vehicle and motorcycle traffic for residents and full-time workers to minimize inconvenience.

Before full-scale operation, a pilot operation was conducted on April 27 on the section from Yeonmujang-gil 21 to Yeonmujang-gil 56-1. Following a survey of local residents and full-time workers, about 82% supported the operation of the ‘Seongdong-type Pedestrian Safety Zone,’ and the section was newly finalized by reflecting suggestions from the field.

During the operation period of the ‘Seongdong-type Pedestrian Safety Zone,’ two-person teams consisting of exemplary drivers and traffic controllers will be deployed at 12 points where vehicle control is necessary. The plan is to minimize confusion in the area by guiding detours and restrictions for external vehicles and pedestrian traffic. However, the ‘Seongdong-type Pedestrian Safety Zone’ will not operate during the Chuseok holiday period, major events, severe cold, adverse weather conditions, or when warnings are issued.

The district will actively collect residents’ opinions during the operation of the ‘Seongdong-type Pedestrian Safety Zone’ and will carefully review the designation of the ‘pedestrian-only road’ in consultation with related organizations such as the Seongdong Police Station.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “We expect that the operation of the Yeonmujang-gil ‘Seongdong-type Pedestrian Safety Zone’ will greatly reduce safety risks for pedestrians,” and added, “We will continue efforts to ensure pedestrian safety in the Seongsu-dong area and to create a traffic safety city Seongdong where everyone can feel safe anywhere.”

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