Seoul 1986: Reflecting on 40 Years of Unfading Vitality

I watched BTS's comeback concert at Gwanghwamun on the 21st of last month. Since it was morning in Eastern Standard Time, I enjoyed it with my morning coffee. In the world of popular culture, a comeback by an idol group is no easy feat, but with 18.4 million people around the world watching the concert live via Netflix, and the show being met with unanimous praise, I thought this was an overwhelming success. Watching the concert, I was reminded of the 1986 Asian Games that I witnessed in Seoul about 40 years ago. Although it was somewhat overshadowed by the 1988 Seoul Olympics, for Seoul, it was the first international event in its history. In fact, the Asian Games may have been a more significant milestone for Seoul’s debut on the international stage than the Olympics themselves. What kind of city was Seoul in 1986? And among the many cities that received attention at the time, what was its standing? Seoul in 1986 was a rapidly changing city. Preparations for international events were

2026.04.01 11:00

Seoul, the Convenience Store City: Seeking Answers in Madrid and Paris

Last spring, I took a walk in Ansan Urban Nature Park with a few people. After the walk, we stopped by a traditional market and enjoyed some Makgeolli. We talked about how there seemed to be fewer food stalls in the market than before, while the number of places where people could drink alcohol had increased. The conversation turned to how other markets were experiencing similar changes. Most people said they lived in apartments and did their grocery shopping at large supermarkets. We concluded that traditional markets were evolving more into "food alleys" as a survival strategy, rather than functioning as markets in the traditional sense, and then moved on to the next topic. The following day, I did a bit of light shopping at a supermarket in the shopping arcade of an apartment complex near my accommodation in Bomun-dong. The arcade was relatively new, and the supermarket was clean and bright. However, the selection of fresh fruits and vegetables was quite limited. A few days later, I

2026.03.04 11:00

As Seoul Faces Population Decline, the City Dreams of Spatial Abundance

The new year of 2026 has arrived. The 2020s began with the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that is already a story from six years ago. If we divide a century, or 100 years, into early, middle, and late periods as if they were months, the early part of the 21st century now has just over seven years left. The 2030s?meaning the middle of the 21st century?are fast approaching. While time in the 21st century is moving forward, discussions about the world’s major cities seem to remain stuck in the frameworks of the late 20th century. The first topic that comes to mind in discussions about major global cities is demographic change. Developed countries have already maintained their urban populations by accepting immigrants as a solution to declining birth rates since the late 20th century. In New York and London, immigrants make up 35% of the total population, and in Toronto and Miami, the figure exceeds 45%. To maintain the population without immigrants, a birth rate of 2.1 is required, b

2026.01.21 13:52

How Far Should Seoul’s Historical Landscape Be Preserved?

In early November, the Supreme Court ruled that the Seoul Metropolitan Government ordinance easing height restrictions in front of Jongmyo Shrine was valid. This decision sparked a heated debate. The Cultural Heritage Administration, academia, and civic groups voiced strong opposition, arguing that super high-rise buildings would seriously damage the landscape and uniqueness of Jongmyo, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. In a nationwide public opinion poll, about 70% of respondents opposed the construction of super high-rise buildings and supported development restrictions. While the debate is centered around Jongmyo, a more fundamental question has emerged: How should Seoul define and preserve its historical landscape? Finding an answer to this question may offer ways to ease the conflict between preservation and development. It is necessary to assess Seoul’s status among the world’s major cities that have successfully preserved their historical landscapes. Seoul began as the capi

2025.12.17 11:43

Seoul's Next Transportation Innovation: Micromobility

Recently, 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani won the New York mayoral election, becoming the city's first Muslim mayor. Mayor Mamdani, who identifies as a social democrat, put forward a number of pledges focused on public welfare and quality of life. His promise to make city buses free received particularly strong support. When thinking of a city’s main modes of transportation, subways usually come to mind before bicycles or buses. The images of major cities formed in the 20th century?such as New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, and Moscow?are closely linked to their subway systems. Likewise, the cutting-edge image of many Asian cities, including Seoul, in the 21st century is also associated with their new and convenient subway networks. However, buses have always been a significant part of urban transportation. The introduction of exclusive bus lanes in Seoul and Mayor Mamdani’s initiative to make buses free both highlight just how important buses are in the daily lives of citizens. Broadly speaki

2025.11.19 13:58

Seoul Housing Prices Block the Dream

At the end of September, I visited Philadelphia. On the way there, I watched the forest of buildings in Manhattan, New York, pass by outside the window. Although I have visited several times and am quite familiar with it, I could not stop by this time. I arrived in Philadelphia after a 75-minute train ride. There was only one reason I skipped New York: the minimum cost for a one-night stay was $400. It was simply too expensive. For that amount, I could stay in Philadelphia for two nights. Other living expenses were also much lower. Despite this, there was plenty to see, the historic scenery was well maintained, and it was a great city for walking. While staying in Philadelphia, I talked with local residents. The topic of New York always came up. Many people had moved from New York to Philadelphia, and they said the main reason was the lower cost of living. In particular, they emphasized the stark difference in housing prices. Upon hearing the details, the gap was shocking. The average

2025.10.22 13:59

Who Decides Seoul's Landmarks?

Among cities around the world, there are not many that have hosted both the Olympics and the World Cup. Seoul is one of these few cities. The 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 2002 World Cup significantly changed the face of Seoul. Between these two major international events, the city saw the construction of a subway system, the rise of apartment complexes, the flourishing of the Gangnam district, and the emergence of several new towns in Gyeonggi Province. Even then, as now, there was active discussion about the future of Seoul surrounding these events. With rapid globalization, the need for a landmark in Seoul was frequently discussed. The prevailing perception at the time was that "Seoul has no landmark." This sentiment persisted from the preparations for the 1988 Olympics through the aftermath of the 2002 World Cup. Every mayor who took office after the 2000s showed great interest in this issue. The restoration of Cheonggyecheon, the construction of Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), and th

2025.09.17 13:56

New Challenges for Public Libraries in the Age of AI

A few days ago, I noticed a sign at the entrance of a public library announcing that cold water was being provided for free. The program was said to be a collaboration between the Rhode Island state government, public library institutions, and local businesses. I could truly sense how public libraries had become more deeply integrated into residents' daily lives. I suddenly wondered how things might be in Seoul. In the early 2010s, when I lived in Seoul as a university professor, I frequently used the university library or the Jongno Library near my home. If I needed special materials, I would visit the National Library of Korea or the National Assembly Library. Around the mid-2010s, many new libraries began appearing throughout Seoul. Out of curiosity, I made a point to visit some of these unique spaces, such as Geulmaru Hanok Children's Library and Cheongun Literature Library, both housed in traditional hanok buildings. I also visited Seoul Library, which occupies the former Seoul Ci

2025.08.13 13:57

Bibimbap, Pizza, Donut, and Seoul

This spring, I spent nearly two months in Seoul, taking every opportunity to walk around the city. I often recalled that I once described Seoul as a "bibim city." The reason for this analogy was the way people in Seoul live together in neighborhoods where commercial and public facilities are mixed together like ingredients in bibimbap. This was around the late 2000s, when I returned to live in Seoul after 15 years in Japan. Looking at Seoul today, more than 20 years later, I feel that this analogy no longer fits. So, what analogy best describes Seoul as we stand at the threshold of the late 2020s? The biggest factor in Seoul's transformation over the past 20 years has been ongoing redevelopment. The characteristic of urban redevelopment in Korea is the complete demolition method. Residents of the targeted area are relocated, all buildings are demolished, and new apartment complexes are constructed on the cleared land. This approach was not invented in Korea, nor is it unique to Korean

2025.06.18 11:05

Seoul Seen from Tokyo: A City in Harmony with Nature

At the end of April, I spent about a week in Tokyo. My first connection with the city was in the summer of 1978, when I was a high school student and did a homestay in Kawasaki, near Tokyo. From 1995 to 2008, while living in Japan, I visited Tokyo frequently, so it is a very familiar city to me. I still vividly remember spending time in Shibuya and Harajuku when I was young.Although I had a busy schedule in Tokyo, I made time to walk around various places. Naturally, this made me think of Seoul. Since I am much more familiar with Seoul than Tokyo, it is difficult to make an objective comparison, but for fun, I deliberately thought about the similarities and differences between Seoul and Tokyo. The most obvious similarity between the two cities is that they are the capitals and largest cities of Korea and Japan, respectively, and therefore serve as the core in almost every field. There are differences when it comes to population ratios. Seoul accounts for 20% of South Korea's population

2025.05.14 13:50