[One Day 10,000 Steps, One Day 1,000 Characters] Songpa Hosudangil and Gangnam Walkable Greenway... What Kind of Roads Are They?

Dosan-daero Concept Plan [Provided by Gangnam-gu Office]

New streets are being created in Gangnam-gu and Songpa-gu. The plan is to renovate the surroundings according to the characteristics of each area to create streets where citizens want to walk and visit, aiming to achieve both health and economic benefits.

Gangnam-gu (Mayor Jo Seong-myeong) is promoting the Gangnam Walkable Green Way, a circular pedestrian-friendly road shaped like a井 (well) connecting Dosan-daero, Yeongdong-daero, Teheran-ro, and Gangnam-daero. The basic design service for the project will begin in August. The "walkable street in the city" aims to create a comfortable walking path connecting the building forest as one, with each street offering spaces with different themes to enjoy.

Location of Gangnam Walkable Greenway [Provided by Gangnam-gu Office]

The project section covers a total of 10.6 km connecting Dosan-daero, Yeongdong-daero, Teheran-ro, and Gangnam-daero. First, the Dosan-daero section from Sinsa Station Intersection to the southern end of Yeongdong Bridge passes through representative spots such as Garosu-gil, Dosan Park, Apgujeong Rodeo Street, and Cheongdam-dong luxury street. The plan is to add green spaces to the wide pedestrian paths so people can enjoy these attractions while walking. The Yeongdong-daero section between Samsung Station and Bongeunsa Station will actively utilize the ground plaza planned as part of the 2028 complex development project. This space will be transformed into an urban garden to create a resting walking area. The Teheran-ro section from Gangnam Station to Samsung Station will see sidewalk expansion, bicycle lane construction, and street forest creation in line with Seoul City's pedestrian-centered sidewalk improvement project. Gangnam-daero will be transformed into a street where digital art can be enjoyed using 18 media poles and 5 large electronic billboards installed along the street.

Yeongdong-daero Complex Development Ground Plaza [Provided by Gangnam-gu Office]

Prior to this, since June, the district has been promoting the Gangnam-daero Landmark Street creation project along a 760m section between Gangnam Station Exit 11 and Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 5. Through public-private governance operation and reflecting citizens' ideas and opinions, the plan is to transform it into a landmark leading new trends by 2024. Mayor Jo Seong-myeong of Gangnam-gu said, "We want to create a pedestrian environment where residents can enjoy greenery close by even in the middle of the city," adding, "We will also proactively introduce various smart technologies to the Green Way to achieve carbon neutrality and implement a sustainable urban model."

Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) is developing the area around Baekjegobun-ro 39-gil in Seokchon-dong into ‘Hosudan-gil’. The ‘Hosudan-gil’ area lies west of Jamsil Lotte World Tower and Seokchon Lake, with Songridan-gil to the east. Unlike the trendy Songridan-gil, this area has many long-established businesses over 20 years old and beloved local restaurants. It boasts a rare landscape in Seoul, harmonizing with the Seokchon-dong ancient tomb cluster. The district plans to create an alley commercial district comparable to Songridan-gil in Songpa-dong in collaboration with the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation Songpa Branch.

Congratulatory banner for the Hosudan-gil Development Project hung in Seokchon-dong
[Photo by Songpa District Office]

By October, one-on-one consulting with experts will be conducted to improve management and strengthen competitiveness of individual businesses within the commercial district. Consultations will cover new menu planning, inventory and staff management know-how, online marketing, and promotional strategies, with actual expenses up to 1 million KRW supported if necessary. On-site visits and consultations will also be conducted for individual businesses in the alley commercial district, along with credit guarantee loans.

Using ideas from MZ generation university students, the project will help merchants develop new marketing strategies. Ten teams will be formed and matched one-on-one with merchants to seek revival of the alley economy. Information panels will be installed along the Seokchon Lake walking path to guide tourists to the ‘Hosudan-gil’ commercial district. Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, "Songpa-gu has many hidden gems in terms of sights and food. We hope Seokchon-dong’s ‘Hosudan-gil’ will emerge as a hot place comparable to Songpa-dong’s ‘Songridan-gil’," adding, "Songpa-gu will continuously pay attention and actively support to attract external tourists and revitalize the alley commercial district."