Improvement of Street Environment in Gyeongridan-gil, Yongsan-gu

1.96 Billion KRW Invested to Create a ‘Gyeongridan-gil You Want to Visit Again’ by Year-End... Renovation of Aging Sidewalks, Event Plaza Construction, and Two Observation Decks Installed on Nearby Sowol-gil

Proposal for Installation of an Observatory on Sowol-gil, Namsan near Gyeongridan-gil

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The original ‘~ridan-gil’ street, Gyeongridan-gil in Yongsan-gu, which inspired similar streets across the country, is being revitalized.

Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) has decided to invest 1.96 billion KRW from city and district budgets starting this month to carry out the ‘Gyeongridan-gil (Hoenamu-ro) You Want to Visit Again’ project.

This is aimed at revitalizing the local economy, which has been stagnant due to COVID-19.

The construction will cover the entire Hoenamu-ro section (900m). The district’s basic policy is to renovate the old sidewalks, remove obstacles, and create a uniquely designed street.

Specifically, the district will first expand the sidewalk at the entrance of Gyeongridan-gil (near the Armed Forces Financial Management Corps), install safety fences, and enhance pedestrian safety and comfort.

At the village bus stop (Samgeori Market Station), an event plaza and green resting area will be created. This is to accommodate various activities of people as a hub where the market, shops, and alleys meet.

The end of Gyeongridan-gil (in front of Namsan Outdoor Botanical Garden) will also have widened sidewalks, handrails, benches, and photo zones installed, making the area overall brighter and more inviting. Additionally, hump-style crosswalks will be newly installed throughout the road to reduce vehicle speed and prevent traffic accidents.

Furthermore, the district plans to introduce a unified design for manhole covers, village bus information signs, and street lamps along Gyeongridan-gil.

A district official said, “We understand that building owners in the Gyeongridan-gil area have significantly lowered rents since last year,” adding, “This construction project is expected to contribute considerably to revitalizing the local economy.”

Two observation decks will be installed on Namsan Sowol-gil near Gyeongridan-gil, aiming to expand the commercial area. Standing on the 3m×6m deck-style observation decks, visitors will be able to enjoy panoramic views of Gyeongridan-gil as well as the entire Seoul cityscape.

The safety fences and resting benches at the observation decks will feature simple and clean designs to maximize aesthetic appeal.

Seong Jang-hyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “We have put a lot of effort into the design consultancy to create a Gyeongridan-gil that people want to visit again,” adding, “We will complete the construction by the end of the year and restore the original reputation of the ‘~ridan-gil’.”

Besides Gyeongridan-gil, the district will also renovate the Itaewon tourism-specialized streets [World Food Street (Itaewon-ro 27ga-gil), Vietnam Quy Nhon Street (Bogwang-ro 59-gil)]. A total of 1.5 billion KRW will be invested in road and sidewalk maintenance, and design facilities (lighting, stairs, murals), with all projects scheduled to be completed by October.