600-Year History Changdeokgung Path 1.9km, Sidewalk Widening and Plaza Creation

Seoul City Completes 'Pedestrian Regeneration Network' in Nakwon Arcade~Donhwamun-ro~Jongmyo Area
Reducing Lanes and Expanding Sidewalks Up to Twice the Width... Expected to Boost Tourist Inflow and Commercial Vitality

The appearance after the improvement of Donhwamun-ro.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Seoul City announced on the 24th that it will complete the "Changdeokgung Front Dosunhanbokpan Major Road Improvement Project," which transforms 1.9 km of roads around Changdeokgung Palace into pedestrian-friendly streets, by the end of this month. It has been two years since the groundbreaking at the end of 2018.

The newly renovated roads include Donhwamun-ro (800 m from Changdeokgung to Jongno 3-ga Station), Seosunra-gil (800 m alongside the west wall of Jongmyo Shrine), Samil-daero (160 m under Nakwon Arcade), and Donhwamun-ro 10-gil (140 m from Nakwon Arcade to Jongmyo Shrine).

Donhwamun-ro, reflecting its historical significance as the road used by Joseon kings, has a 150 m section transformed into a plaza without curbs between the roadway and sidewalk to accommodate various events. Seosunra-gil’s sidewalk width was expanded from 1.5 m to 3 m, and a pedestrian plaza was created to allow it to operate as a car-free street on weekends.

Samil-daero (Nakwon Arcade) improved the deteriorated pedestrian environment to allow citizens to travel more comfortably between Insadong and Jongmyo Shrine, and lighting was installed in the space beneath Nakwon Arcade. The "Seoul Life Culture Center Nakwon," which opened last month, is currently operating as a space for music and culture enthusiasts.

Donhwamun-ro 10-gil, connecting Donhwamun-ro and Seosunra-gil east to west, also reduced the roadway and expanded the sidewalk width from 2.5 m to a maximum of 5 m.

Following the Changdeokgung area, the road space reorganization project on Toegye-ro (2.6 km), which will be completed by the end of this month, and the "Sejong-daero Saramsoop-gil" scheduled for early next year, will transform downtown Seoul into a "pedestrian paradise" where people can enjoy the city’s history, culture, flavors, and style while walking, according to Seoul City.

Ryu Hoon, Director of Seoul City’s Urban Regeneration Office, said, "This project to improve the narrow and inconvenient streets around Changdeokgung into pedestrian-centered, walkable streets is a strategy that captures two goals: urban regeneration around Changdeokgung and road space reorganization inside the Four Great Gates of Hanyangdoseong." He added, "We hope it will transform into a vibrant, premium street where history and culture blend in the heart of Hanyangdoseong, attracting both citizens and tourists, and serve as a catalyst to breathe new life into the surrounding commercial areas."