[Seoul's Future] Woo Byung-hyun, CEO of Asia Economy, "Cheongwadae Opening, Turning Point for Seoul's Future"

'2022 Seoul Future Forum' Opening Remarks
"An Opportunity to Design Old Seoul and Future Seoul Together"

Woo Byung-hyun, CEO of Asia Economy, said on the 16th, "The opening of Cheongwadae is not simply about deciding the future of Seochon, but an important turning point for the future of Seoul."

On the same day, at the opening speech of the "2022 Seoul Future Forum" hosted by Asia Economy at Maehwa Hall on the 19th floor of the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, under the theme "The Future of Seoul, The Future of Seochon," Woo said, "The opening of Cheongwadae is an opportunity to attempt a grand design that can jointly plan the future Seoul centered on the Yongsan Presidential Office and the old Seoul surrounded by the Hanyangdoseong."

Woo said, "The reason Asia Economy planned the Seoul Future Forum was precisely because of the relocation of the Presidential Office," adding, "The current administration established the Presidential Office in Yongsan from the beginning, and Cheongwadae has fulfilled its role as the heart of power and returned to the people." He explained, "The relocation of the Presidential Office to Yongsan is a historic event. It is the first time since Hanyang was established as the capital that the highest authority institution has moved outside the Four Great Gates. With the relocation of this power institution, the blocked veins of Seoul have been opened, and the entire 18.6 km of the Hanyangdoseong has been properly connected."

Woo said, "Asia Economy took the opportunity of the Presidential Office relocation to interview various people including residents of Seochon and Bukchon, urban experts, and humanities scholars, and released a 'Future of Seochon' series," adding, "Through the Future of Seochon series, we confirmed that the opening of Cheongwadae is an important turning point for the future of Seoul."

Woo said, "Recently, while attending the World Association of Newspapers General Assembly, I visited major cities in Spain, and upon returning to Seoul, I realized that Seoul's charm is comparable to any city in Spain," emphasizing, "The charm of a city depends not on its size or fame, but on what uniqueness and stories it holds." He continued, "No matter which city you visit in the world, there is no tourist course as large as the Hanyangdoseong. Walking along the Hanyangdoseong and descending to the paths inside and outside the fortress, you can visit palaces such as Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, and Deoksugung, and in the alleys of palace villages represented by Bukchon and Seochon, you can quietly enjoy eating and drinking."

Woo emphasized, "Asia Economy will hold an annual forum themed on the future of Seoul to provide a small platform for systematically designing Seoul's future where the old and new harmonize, history and industry coexist, and life and welfare converge."