From the 9th for 17 days... 'Itaewon Byeolheneun Bam'

Yongsan-gu Hosts ‘Starry Night’ Project to Revitalize Itaewon Attractions

From Noksapyeong Station Plaza to Itaewon Station... 17 Days of Nighttime Lighting from Sunset to Midnight

Lighting Ceremony on the 9th at 8 PM, Lights Off Ceremony on the 25th at 9 PM

Healing and Restorative Lights to Spark Revitalization of Itaewon Commercial Area

Yongsan-gu will launch the ‘Starry Night’ project to revitalize Itaewon’s attractions for 17 days starting from the 9th. The project aims to create nighttime scenery to boost the Itaewon commercial district.

The nighttime lighting will cover approximately 580 meters along Itaewon-ro street, from Noksapyeong Station Plaza to Itaewon Station. The alleys connecting Itaewon-ro and the World Food Street will also be illuminated.

The lighting will begin with a performance at 8 PM on the 9th and conclude with a lights-off message at 9 PM on the 25th. The district plans to divide the lighted street into five sections to convey hopeful messages through starlight.

In the ‘Light of Hope’ section at Noksapyeong Station Plaza, a whale sculpture symbolizing hope will be installed. It is expected to attract not only Itaewon visitors but also drivers passing through the Noksapyeong intersection. From the 9th to the 11th, the plaza will host experiential events such as lantern making, line art light play, wish card writing, and plogging, along with busking performances.

The ‘Starlight’ section will use street trees to create a street filled with stars in the sky. Hologram stands will be placed so pedestrians can enjoy various light changes.

Photo zones where visitors can capture ‘life shots’ will be set up in the ‘Light of Wishes’ section and other areas. The first alley leading to the World Food Street will be brightly lit with chandelier lighting.

In the ‘Light of Memories’ section, LED ball lights will guide pedestrians into the alley commercial area and create a skyline with various light patterns.

Visitors who came to Quinon-gil behind Itaewon-ro last month

Hope trees will be installed near the Hamilton Hotel and Itaewon Station. This is intended to imprint the wish for the street to be reborn as a space for healing and harmony.

The lighting will be on for less than six hours, considering the carbon storage capacity of street trees and reducing light pollution. The lights will automatically turn on at sunset and off at midnight for 17 days.

On the 29th of last month, the district established a safety plan and will conduct a pre-inspection on the 8th with about 10 officials from the district office, district council, Itaewon Tourism Special Zone Association, the agency in charge, and the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation.

To ensure visitor safety, district and agency staff will be assigned as safety managers. Professional personnel will be on standby to manage facilities and conduct special inspections in case of weather warnings or potential facility damage.

Kim Seonsu, Acting Mayor of Yongsan-gu, stated, “Itaewon will inevitably remain a place that recalls the memory of the tragedy,” adding, “We will make multifaceted efforts so that the accumulated efforts to meet, embrace, and heal each other can lead to a path of recovery.”

The district issued a total of 32.6 billion KRW in Itaewon Commercial Recovery Gift Certificates, which were sold out by April 1. Since February, busking performances titled ‘Itaewon Again, Spring,’ Noksapyeong Station concerts, and the Itaewon Spring Antique & Vintage Festival have been held to attract foot traffic.

Projects such as ‘Development of Augmented Reality Content for Noksapyeong Pedestrian Bridge,’ ‘Artterior Support’ to add identity to Itaewon shops, ‘Establishment of a Five-Year Plan for Tourism Special Zone Revitalization,’ improvements to the Itaewon Tourism Special Zone pedestrian environment, and walking challenges are underway.

Lighting Street 'Counting Stars Night' Production Composition