[Future of Seochon]⑨ Seoul Mayor Candidate Oh Se-hoon: "Opening a 'New Gwanghwamun Era' in Seoul Downtown Facing a New Turning Point"

Oh "Recreating as a space full of rest, leisure, and vitality"
Songhyeon-dong site opened to the public for the first time in 110 years, expectations for Seochon development
Promoting a 'comprehensive development plan' encompassing citizens, tourists, and commercial areas

Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] "The opening of the Blue House and the various changes taking place in the surrounding area are combining and creating synergy, ushering in a completely new turning point for downtown Seoul, including Seochon, unlike before."

On the 25th, Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, stated in an interview with Asia Economy, "I will create a detailed plan so that downtown Seoul can be reinvented as a space full of rest, leisure, and vitality. We will prepare for the opening of the new Gwanghwamun era."

The new Gwanghwamun era will be centered on the future combining the parkification of Gwanghwamun Square and green development of the old downtown. It is expected to gain more momentum in conjunction with the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's opening of the Blue House. Since Seochon is a representative area in the city center that has yet to be developed, it could become a core part of the new Gwanghwamun era depending on the direction of development.

Candidate Oh emphasized, "When Gwanghwamun Square reopens in July as a park-like plaza, citizens and tourists will be able to walk freely and continuously from Gwanghwamun Square through the Blue House to Bukaksan Mountain." He added, "This will create a turning point for the complete transformation of the Gwanghwamun area, which is rich in 600 years of Hanyang Fortress historical resources and various cultural and tourist facilities." Furthermore, he said, "When combined with the 'green ecological urban center' that colors the entire area from Yulgok-ro to Toegye-ro green, a new axis connecting Bukaksan Mountain to Jongmyo Shrine, Changgyeonggung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Sewoon Shopping Center, Namsan, Yongsan, and the Han River can also be formed." Seochon, which is close to Bukaksan Mountain, is located along the first axis.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is inspecting the site in Songhyeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on April 29. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to develop the Songhyeon-dong site, where the 'Lee Kun-hee Donation Hall (tentative name)' will be established, into an "open space with rest and culture" and open it together with the reopening of Gwanghwamun Square in the second half of this year.
Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

The Songhyeon-dong site, which has been enclosed by high walls and neglected for over 110 years, is scheduled to be opened, raising expectations for the development of the Seochon area. The Songhyeon-dong site is located east-west between Seochon-Gyeongbokgung-Changdeokgung and north-south between Bukchon and Insadong. Candidate Oh said, "As the walls of the Songhyeon-dong site are torn down, a green space more than three times the size of Seoul Plaza will soon return to the people." He added, "At a time when we are emerging from the long tunnel of the COVID-19 pandemic and regaining our daily lives, the number of domestic and international tourists visiting this area will gradually increase."

Candidate Oh plans to promote a comprehensive development plan that will drive the revitalization of the city center, including Seochon, for citizens, tourists, local businesses, and tourism. He said, "If elected in this election, I will lead changes in the area that citizens and tourists can feel firsthand," and added, "I will enhance convenience, comfort, and happiness not only for residents but also for citizens and tourists visiting the area around the Blue House."