Gwanghwamun and Sejong-daero Area to Become a World-Class Media Landmark

Jongno-gu Announces the Dawn of the "Gwanghwamun of Light" Era
Gwanghwamun Square Project in Full Swing
Large Electronic Billboards at Koreana Hotel, KT, and Dong-A Ilbo Buildings

With the launch of the Gwanghwamun Square Project spearheaded by Jongno-gu, Seoul, the area surrounding Gwanghwamun Square and Sejong-daero is set to be transformed into a "world-class media landmark."

On June 9, Jongno-gu held the first regular meeting of the "Gwanghwamun Square Outdoor Advertisement Free Display Zone Public-Private Joint Council" for the first half of the year at the district office, where specific strategies necessary for the project's implementation were discussed. This meeting, the first regular session since the council's establishment in December 2024 and the opening of its secretariat in April 2025, reviewed the achievements made in the first half of the year and examined strategies for the second half, as well as plans for building the Gwanghwamun Square Media Platform (GMP).

Gwanghwamun and Sejong-daero Area to Become a World-Class Media Landmark

Example of KT West Building introduction. Provided by Jongno-gu.

The core of the Gwanghwamun Square Project is to benchmark New York's Times Square and develop the Gwanghwamun Square and Sejong-daero area into a "world-class media landmark" that combines digital outdoor advertising with arts and culture. The project is being led not only by public institutions such as Jongno-gu, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, but also by a private council that includes building owners within the project area, as well as experts in advertising, law, and accounting.

Currently, the Koreana Hotel has begun pilot operation of an electronic billboard, and large-scale billboards are scheduled to be installed at KT WEST in August and at the Dong-A Ilbo building in October. By the end of the year, a total of nine buildings?including Kyobo Life, Dongwha Duty Free, and Dajeong Building?will have electronic billboards installed in succession. An opening event for Gwanghwamun Square will also be held to coincide with the launch of the KT billboard.

The "Media Pole" project within the free display zone has also been set in motion. In May, a project operator was selected, and design work is currently underway. On the content side, a partnership has been formed with KIAF, Korea's first international art fair, to prepare for high-quality media art exhibitions. At the end of the year, a large-scale countdown performance linked to Gwanghwamun Square is also planned.

Experts predict that this project will not only improve the city's image but also strengthen urban branding, increase building values, and revitalize the local economy.

Kim Jinsu, a professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Konkuk University, stated, "Gwanghwamun is a key hub of Seoul," adding, "Once this project is fully underway, it will elevate the city's brand and generate significant economic ripple effects, much like New York's Times Square." In fact, the value of New York's 'One Times Square' building is reported to have increased by approximately $500 million since the installation of its large billboard in 1996.

Jung Moonheon, head of Jongno-gu Office, said, "Now that the institutional foundation is in place, this is the turning point for execution," adding, "We will do our utmost to ensure that Gwanghwamun Square becomes a world-class media landmark where media and art converge, far beyond a simple advertising space."