Yongsan-gu Itaewon Tourism Specialty Street Renovation

Itaewon World Food Street and Vietnam Quy Nhon Street Renovated... Construction Starts This Month, Completed in October... 1.5 Billion KRW Invested... Road and Sidewalk Maintenance, Staircase and Mural Replacement, Installation of Landscape Lighting... Street Performance Area Also Refurbished

Itaewon 'Vietnam Quy Nhon Street' Landscape Lighting Plan

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Yongsan-gu (District Mayor Seongjanghyun) is newly creating the Itaewon Tourism Specialty Streets (World Food Street, Vietnam Quy Nhon Street).

The World Food Street refers to the area around Itaewon-ro 27ga-gil, and Vietnam Quy Nhon Street refers to the area around Bogwang-ro 59-gil.

In 2013, the district created the World Food Street within the Itaewon tourism special zone, reflecting the regional and artistic characteristics to attract tourists.

Considering the high pedestrian traffic in Itaewon, a "space-empty" design (car-free street, resting areas) was implemented within the food street. Overhead and communication lines were buried underground, and road paving work was carried out to create a pedestrian-centered street. Additionally, to create themed streets, landscape lighting was installed along with a street cultural performance stage (busking stage).

Vietnam Quy Nhon Street was created in 2016 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Yongsan-Quy Nhon friendship exchange, naming the themed street after the two cities. In Quy Nhon City, there is a "Yongsan Street".

Each section of the street was designed with four themes: culture, communication, nature, and harmony, using the lotus flower, Vietnam's national flower, as a pattern on the road surface. A garden was created in the center of the street, and a sculpture shaped like the traditional Vietnamese hat 'Non' was installed.

Over time, parts of the road, pedestrian paths, street sculptures, and convenience facilities became worn out. The district decided to refurbish the specialty streets to ensure tourists' safety and widely promote the Itaewon street brand.

The specialty street maintenance work will be carried out sequentially and safely. The work will proceed in the order of road and sidewalk maintenance, design (lighting, stairs, murals) facility construction, starting this month and expected to be completed by October. A budget of 1.5 billion KRW will be invested.

First, the pedestrian paths within the World Food Street will be refurbished. The asphalt concrete pedestrian paths will be replaced with more durable stone slabs. Stairs and murals will also be newly decorated. The previously indiscriminately drawn graffiti will be removed and unified with designs symbolizing the Itaewon World Food Street.

The old and underutilized street cultural performance stage (busking stage) will also be refurbished. An LED electronic display will be installed, and the stage will be completely replaced to create an environment where anyone can freely perform on stage.

Itaewon World Food Street

The roads and pedestrian paths around Quy Nhon Street will be refurbished, and landscape lighting with traditional Vietnamese sculptural beauty and colors will be installed. Street art featuring traditional Vietnamese patterns will be applied to the roads, creating a unique specialty street appearance.

Seongjanghyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, "Itaewon is Korea's representative tourist destination visited by 10 million people annually," adding, "We will refurbish the streets to highlight Itaewon's unique characteristics so that even more people can visit this fall."