[Development of Yongsan International Business District] 45 Floors Walking with Seoul City View... Yongsan District as a 'Compact City' Combining Work and Rest

Introduction of 1.1km Long 'Skytrail' in Business Complex Zone
Creation of 'Seoul Art Band' Including Indoor Performance Hall and Art Museum
Green Square Connecting Hangang Park to Yongsan Station Also Planned

Yongsan International Business District will be reborn as a ‘compact city’ that integrates all functions necessary for life, including work, leisure culture, and rest.

According to Seoul City on the 5th, in addition to the ‘Sky Trail (pedestrian sky bridge)’ and a 100-story landmark, various facilities will be introduced into the International Business District.

Perspective view of the 'Sky Trail (Pedestrian Overpass)' as seen from the Yongsan International Business District Work Support Zone. Photo by Seoul City

In the lower floors of the International Business Zone, a ‘Seoul Art Band (tentative name)’ composed of an indoor performance hall, art museum, and complex cultural library will be created and utilized as spaces for performances, exhibitions, and experiences. A symbolic sculpture similar to New York Hudson Yards’ ‘Vessel’ will be installed in the center to promote it as a landmark. An international design competition will be held for this purpose.

A ‘Riverside Buk-ro Upper Cover Park’ will also be created, allowing walking access from the International Business District to Hangang Park and Nodeul Island. The approximately 80,000㎡ (about 11 soccer fields) ‘aerial green space (Green Square)’ located in the center of the International Business Zone will include an outdoor performance hall.

The city plans to secure 500,000㎡ of green space and utilize the entire space three-dimensionally from underground to ground to aerial levels. This corresponds to 100% of the project site area (495,000㎡). Twenty percent of the district area will be secured as ‘urban planning facilities’ such as parks and green spaces, 30% will be used as ‘open green spaces’ through private open spaces, and the remaining 50% will be secured through building terraces, rooftops, and vertical greening.

Perspective view of Green Square seen from Yongsan Station. Photo by Seoul City

The Green Square, created above the tracks on the south side of Yongsan Station, will be designed as a three-dimensional park connecting Hangang Park and Yongsan Station in a straight line. The U-shaped ‘circular green space (Green Curve)’ with a width of 40m and a length of 1 km will be developed as an open green space accessible from anywhere within the International Business District, and the ‘linear green space (Green Corridor)’ will function as a pedestrian and visual axis connecting the surrounding urban area and Yongsan International Business District. The city plans to secure extensive vertical and horizontal green spaces to complete a green walking axis connecting Yongsan Park, Hangang Park, and Nodeul Island.

Additionally, the International Business District will operate as a ‘carbon emission zero (0) zone’ by introducing cutting-edge technologies in the environment and transportation sectors. By introducing smart transportation means and expanding advanced public transportation infrastructure such as the new airport railroad originating from Yongsan Station, the public transportation modal share in the Yongsan area will be increased from the current 57% to 70%. At the same time, proactive demand management such as designating special traffic congestion management zones will reduce traffic volume by half. Furthermore, eco-friendly transportation means such as shared transportation, autonomous shuttles, and urban air mobility (UAM) will be introduced, and carbon emissions from transportation will be significantly reduced through phased restrictions on internal combustion engine vehicles within Yongsan International Business District and expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.