Mapo-daero Transformed into a 'Pine Forest' Representing Korean Tradition

A Street Garden Blooming with Four Seasons of Flowers
Beneath the 'Pine Forest' in Mapo-gu

Mapo-daero in Mapo-gu is being reborn as a ‘Pine Forest’.

Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Gang-su) will plant Korean traditional pine trees along the Mapo-daero area (from Gongdeok Station to the northern green zone of Mapo-daero) to create a ‘Pine Forest’.

In the past, Mapo-daero was used as a main route when foreign dignitaries visited Seoul, earning it the nickname ‘Guest Road’.

Transforming Mapo-daero into a ‘Pine Forest’ representing Korean tradition, the plan is to offer foreign visitors the natural beauty of Korea and provide residents with a relaxing resting space.

Most of the street trees have grown old and large, mainly birch trees, which have become susceptible to pests and diseases, deteriorating their health and increasing the risk of safety accidents due to falling trees.

Frequent drainage blockages caused by fallen leaves have also led to many complaints from citizens about safety and inconvenience, making the replacement and maintenance of street trees an urgent matter.

Pine trees grow slowly, shed fewer leaves, and their canopies do not grow large enough to block traffic signs.

Additionally, beneath the pine forest, a street garden with flowers blooming in all four seasons will be created, providing a resting place where people can enjoy nature within the city. Various flowers and plants will bloom in spring, summer, fall, and winter, offering small joys and tranquility to visitors of Mapo-daero.

Moreover, the ‘Pine Forest’ project not only aesthetically enhances the landscape but also provides environmental benefits such as mitigating the urban heat island effect and reducing fine dust.

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “The Pine Forest project is aimed at providing citizens with a better living environment,” adding, “By planting pine trees that symbolize the spirit of our nation and remain green throughout all four seasons, we will strive to transform the Mapo-daero area into a premium urban forest.”