Dongdaemun-gu Emerges as the Commercial, Transportation, and Cultural Hub of Seoul's Northeastern Area

A Garden of Knowledge, Utilizing Jeonnong-dong Seoul Metropolitan Library (Dongdaemun) Site to Provide Urban Healing... Cheongnyangni, a Transportation, Commercial, and Cultural Hub Where Traditional Markets and Skyscrapers Coexist

Dongdaemun-gu, boasting a 600-year tradition and history, is entering a new renaissance.

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) held an on-site visit for the Seoul City Press Corps (press tour) starting at 4 p.m. on the 19th, beginning with a visit to the 'Garden of Knowledge' (flower garden) created on the site of the Seoul Metropolitan Library (Dongdaemun), a major project area promoted by the district. The tour included an explanation of the development around Cheongnyangni Station, where the GTX-B and C lines will pass through and a 65-story super high-rise apartment complex will be occupied.

Mayor Lee Pil-hyung of Dongdaemun-gu explains the 'Garden of Knowledge' created on the site of the Seoul Metropolitan Library

Mayor Lee Pil-hyung visited the Garden of Knowledge (flower garden) utilizing the site of the Seoul Metropolitan Library (Dongdaemun) and began the briefing.

He then toured the site, observing residents taking walks, and explained that the flower garden will be beautifully maintained until the library is built in 2025. The mayor proudly stated, "Children, students, and residents enjoy walking here all day long, morning and evening."

The Garden of Knowledge (flower garden), which opened on September 21, is located on the site of the Seoul Metropolitan Library (Dongdaemun) (around 691-3 Jeonnong-dong). The site was designated as a school site in 2006 but was left unused for a long time due to a decrease in the school-age population and failure to obtain approval from the education office. This caused inconveniences for residents such as illegal dumping, pests, and deterioration of urban aesthetics. The district gathered residents' opinions on site utilization and decided to create a flower garden where residents can heal and rest until the Seoul Metropolitan Library (Dongdaemun) construction begins.

The mayor acknowledged concerns from residents fearing the library construction might be canceled due to the flower garden but assured that the library project is underway and will be completed as planned through active cooperation with relevant Seoul city departments. The library, with a total floor area of 25,000㎡, is currently undergoing an international design competition since August this year. Five entries have been selected in the first phase, and the final winner will be announced in December.

The district plans to keep the Garden of Knowledge fully open 24/7 until June 2025, coinciding with the library construction schedule, allowing anyone to visit anytime to enjoy the flowers and rest. Mayor Lee concluded the first project explanation by touring the garden, which is themed with wildflower areas and gardener’s gardens, showcasing the autumn flowers in full bloom.

Complete transformation around Cheongnyangni Station... modernization plans for Gyeongdong Market, Oriental Medicine Hospital, and more underway

Next, an explanation of the Cheongnyangni complex development was given at the Cheongnyangni-dong Community Service Center.

At the Cheongnyangni-dong Community Service Center, which opened in August this year, a session was held to explain the Cheongnyangni complex development. The blueprint for change in the Cheongnyangni area was presented, including the development of traditional markets, the opening of GTX-B and C lines as a hub for metropolitan transportation, redevelopment projects around Cheongnyangni Station, and the comprehensive development of the station’s front area.

The district aims to establish the 'Cheongnyang Market Mall' through systematic management plans and innovative improvement projects for nine traditional markets in the Cheongnyangni area, aspiring to become one of the world's top five global traditional markets. The area around 1082 Jegi-dong was selected as a new hanok village project site by Seoul City, and in September, Cheongnyangni General Market was chosen as the final winner of Seoul City’s design innovation traditional market contest. The district plans to link these two projects with the Cheongnyang Market Mall. A unified design will be applied across the entire market area within the mall, including roofs, exterior walls, and signboards, connecting the roofs of each market section to create a rooftop market road.

The mayor stated, “We will create a ‘Rainbow Market’ applying different colors to each market, transforming the traditional markets into a stylish and fun space that attracts young people by linking with existing youth malls and the Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 branch.”

The district is currently considering building a Traditional Market Promotion Center with parking tower functions in the area around the first arch of the Cheongnyangni Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market, which is currently managed directly by the Facilities Management Corporation as the Cheongnyangni Market No. 1 Public Parking Lot. The Promotion Center will use AI technology-based smart logistics systems to systematically manage the nine markets and alleviate parking difficulties, enhancing convenience for visitors and attracting more people to the traditional markets. Additionally, the Cheongnyang Market Cultural Plaza, to be created near the center, will serve as a resting place for market merchants and visitors and become a landmark for traditional market tourism.

Cheongnyangni is also expected to play a significant role as a transportation hub in the northeastern part of Seoul. The 82.7 km metropolitan area express railway GTX-B, running from Incheon National University Station through Cheongnyangni to Namyangju Maseok, is scheduled to open in 2030. The 74.8 km GTX-C line, connecting Yangju Deokjeong through Cheongnyangni to Suwon, is expected to open in 2028. In line with the opening of GTX-B and C lines, the construction of a metropolitan transfer center at Cheongnyangni Station will begin in January 2024 and be completed by January 2029. The district plans to utilize the space above the underground bus transfer terminal created by the transfer center as a resting and cultural space for travelers and residents. Furthermore, the district will continuously propose to related organizations to include an urban airport terminal in the Cheongnyangni Station metropolitan transfer center plan.

The winds of change in Cheongnyangni have already begun. With the completion of redevelopment projects around Cheongnyangni Station, such as Cheongnyangni 3 District and Cheongnyangni 4 District this year, the area has developed remarkably. Currently, the Jeonnong District, Jeonnong 12 District, and Jeonnong 9 District behind Cheongnyangni Station are at the stages of establishing associations and designating implementers (LH), and will proceed sequentially.

Also, the former Cheongnyangni Mental Hospital site in Cheongnyangni-dong 46, the front area of Cheongnyangni Station, was designated as a special planning zone by Seoul City ordinance in August this year, and the KT site at 368 Cheongnyangni-dong was also designated as a special planning zone in August. The district plans to develop a detailed development plan utilizing the hospital relocation site, KT site, and Miju Shopping Center, the core hubs of Cheongnyangni’s front area, to create a new central space in Seoul with transportation, commercial, and cultural functions for the bus transfer center and the floating population of Cheongnyangni Station.

Mayor Lee Pil-hyung expressed confidence, saying, “Along with traditional market development and redevelopment projects around Cheongnyangni Station, the arrival of the GTX-B and C lines passing through Cheongnyangni Station marks an opportunity for Cheongnyangni to transform into a new face and develop as a center for transportation, business, commerce, and culture. We will create a Dongdaemun-gu where everyone wants to live and everyone is happy.”