Creation of the 'Baekje Hanseong Period Historical and Cultural Specialized Street' in Pungnap-dong, Songpa-gu

Apply Sumaksae and Chiljido Designs to Paving Blocks and Manhole Covers to Experience Baekje Culture While Walking in Pungnap-dong

Design Improvement in Front of Yeongpa Girls' High School After Completion

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Songpa-gu (Mayor Seongsoo Park) has completed a design improvement project in the Pungnap-dong area to allow people to feel the historical value of the Baekje Hanseong period from 2,000 years ago.

Songpa was the capital during the 500 years of the Baekje Hanseong period (18 BCE ? 475 CE), and various relics such as the Pungnap-dong Earthen Fortress, Mongchon Earthen Fortress, Seokchon-dong Tumuli Cluster, and Bangi-dong Tumuli Cluster are located there.

Following the completion of the comprehensive maintenance plan for the Pungnap-dong Earthen Fortress in 2019, projects to revive the historical significance of the Baekje Hanseong period have been underway.

Accordingly, the district improved the design of public facilities centered on the sidewalks of Pungnap-dong, where major Baekje relics are located, creating a "historical and cultural specialized street."

Sidewalk blocks, manhole covers, and tree guards were newly adorned with Chiljido (Seven-Branched Sword) and Sumaksae (decorative roof tiles). The designs utilized the "Baekje Hanseong Period Cultural Heritage Design Collection," which was created based on artifacts excavated from each historic site.

The project covered a total of four locations. In the first half of last year, the section from Yeongpa Girls' Middle School to Gapul Apartments on Pungseong-ro was improved as a pilot project. Considering the narrow effective width of the sidewalk, design panels with Sumaksae patterns were paved instead of sidewalk blocks. In the second half, a total of 1.3 km of deteriorated sidewalks next to Pungnap Baekje Cultural Park on Hangaram-ro, in front of Gwangseong Church, and in front of Yeongpa Girls' High School were replaced with designed sidewalk blocks, and tree guards, manhole covers, and fences were designed to evoke Baekje culture.

The district plans to expand the design replacement project of public facilities throughout Pungnap-dong in the future, considering factors such as resident usage and deterioration.

Mayor Seongsoo Park stated, “Songpa-gu is the center of Seoul’s historical and cultural heritage where the breath of Baekje from 2,000 years ago still lives,” and added, “This year as well, we will continuously promote the creation of specialized streets centered on Baekje culture to build Songpa as a historical and cultural city where the past and present coexist.”