Vehicle traffic ban lifted on Sinchon Yonsei-ro... 'Public Transport Only Zone' lifted after 11 years

Shinchon Rotary to Yonsei University Samgeori 500m Section
Reflecting Economic Downturn and Merchant Requests Affecting Commercial Area
Maintaining Pedestrian-Friendly Policy... Additional Supplementary Measures Under Discussion

The public transportation-only zone covering the 500m section from Sinchon Rotary to Yonsei University Samgeori has been lifted after 11 years. Vehicle traffic, including taxis and private cars, which had been prohibited, will now be fully allowed.

On the 19th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced the "Yonsero Public Transportation-Only Zone Designation Cancellation Notice," stating that it will take effect from January 1 of next year.

The Yonsero public transportation-only zone was the first pedestrian and public transportation exclusive area established by Seoul City, created in January 2014 along the approximately 500m stretch from Sinchon Rotary to Yonsei University Samgeori. The expansion of sidewalks, reduction of lanes, and creation of plazas contributed to improving the pedestrian environment.

'Exclusive Public Transportation Zone' Lifted Section. Provided by Seoul City

However, after the project was implemented, complex factors such as COVID-19, changes in consumer markets and traffic conditions, and economic recession affected the adjacent commercial areas. There were continuous requests for cancellation from Sinchon merchants, residents, and Seodaemun-gu. Accordingly, since last year, Seoul City has conducted careful reviews including on-site analysis, monitoring of commercial and traffic conditions, gathering citizen opinions, and consulting experts. A Seoul city official explained, "As a result of comprehensive analysis, the effect of traffic demand dispersion was minimal, and a correlation with declining commercial sales was confirmed, so after careful consideration, we decided to proceed with lifting the exclusive zone designation."

However, reflecting citizens’ demands for pedestrian-friendly policies, supplementary measures such as "additional operation of car-free streets" will be implemented to ensure continuous pedestrian-friendly policies. Additional reviews will continue to ensure that the lifting of the public transportation-only zone achieves improvements in vehicle traffic flow, revitalization of commercial areas, support for livelihoods, and enhancement of pedestrian-friendliness. First, visibility will be improved by paving sidewalks and roadways at both directions of the Yonsero intersection and in front of Sinchon Station exits 2 and 3, and traffic safety facilities will be strengthened by adding intersection signals and crosswalks. Various management measures will also be implemented to maintain smooth vehicle traffic conditions.

Yoon Jong-jang, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Transportation Office, said, "Since the lifting of the Yonsero public transportation-only zone designation is being implemented after a two-year process of various reviews, we will implement meticulous management measures tailored to traffic conditions and local circumstances even after the cancellation."

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