[Seoul's Future] "We Must Coexist with Nature... Securing Public Spaces Is Essential"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] “Seoul is a beautiful city blessed with a natural environment. However, during the modernization process, the connection with nature has been greatly severed. To restore Seoul’s identity, we must continue to maintain the connection with nature. I believe this is a challenge we must absolutely solve.”

What is needed for Seoul’s future? Professor Lee Sang-heon of Konkuk University Graduate School of Architecture pointed to coexistence with nature. Preserving the natural environment, the most important landscape element in Seoul, will better bring out Seoul’s identity.

Professor Lee said, “In European city-states, architectural structures like churches or towers are major landscape elements, but in Seoul, nature surrounding the city has been central since ancient times,” and emphasized, “Connecting this natural environment visually and physically throughout the entire city is the key factor in restoring Seoul’s identity.”

He continued, “The Han River running through Seoul, the urban streams connected to it, and the surrounding mountains have tremendous potential that must be well utilized as a top priority,” adding, “We should also consider ways to improve accessibility by properly managing the hilly parks, which have lost much of their form during modernization.”

In the middle of the street in Jangan-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, where the World Street Dance Festival was held
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

Professor Lee also highlighted the importance of ‘public spaces,’ which are outdoor urban spaces. Public spaces refer to areas such as streets, parks, and plazas where citizens can freely gather, rest, and hold events and festivals. However, in Seoul, public gatherings, performances, and meetings mostly take place on streets rather than parks or plazas.

He pointed out, “Vacant lots are not being utilized as public spaces at all,” explaining, “Due to Seoul’s urban structure characterized by streets and lot organization, it is difficult to use vacant lots within lots as public spaces.”

In Western cities, vacant large lots are mostly used clearly as public spaces like plazas and parks. In contrast, Seoul’s leftover vacant lots are closely attached to lots and are used as private spaces or closed off for management reasons, thus failing to function properly as public spaces.

Professor Lee argued, “These spaces should be developed into parks, rest areas, parking lots, and other necessary facilities to enhance citizens’ convenience,” and added, “By integrating vacant lots to create small plazas and planning and managing them more systematically at the urban planning level, these problems can be solved.”

Professor Lee Sang-heon has been a professor at Konkuk University Graduate School of Architecture since 1998, exploring practical architecture and urban theories suited to Korea’s reality. He graduated from Seoul National University’s Department of Architecture and its graduate school, and earned a Ph.D. in architectural history, theory, and criticism from MIT in the United States. He has worked at Ilgun, Jeonglim Architects, and Inwoo Architects, and holds architectural licenses in both Korea and the U.S. His publications include and . He focuses on writing that analyzes fundamental problems of modern Korean architecture and cities and proposes solutions.