How Has Seoul Transformed into a Pedestrian-Friendly City? [New Traffic Refugee Report] 20

The Future of Seoul - The Future of Transportation
Seoul Begins Pedestrian Policies in the 1990s
Creation of Seoul Plaza and Restoration of Cheonggyecheon in the 2000s
Oh Sehoon Invests 28.6 Billion Won to Improve Pedestrian Environment
Seoullo 7017 Sees Fewer Users... 'Demolition Debate'

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has proactively implemented policies to create a pedestrian-friendly environment. These efforts go beyond simply expanding walking spaces, focusing also on establishing safe environments and adding aesthetic elements to enhance pedestrian preference.

Seoul's comprehensive pedestrian policies began in the 1990s, when pedestrian traffic accidents were on the rise. With rapid urbanization, the number of automobiles increased from 450,000 in 1980 to 1.2 million in 1990, a 2.6-fold increase over five years. As traffic accidents increased alongside this, Seoul enacted the Pedestrian Ordinance in 1997 and established "car-free streets" in areas such as Insadong and Myeong-dong. In 1998, the city created "streets you want to walk on" and formulated the first Basic Plan for Pedestrian Environment in Seoul.

Seoul Outdoor Library established at Seoul Plaza. Photo by Yonhap News

In the 2000s, even more space was returned to pedestrians. A representative example is the bold removal of roadways in central Seoul in 2004 to create Seoul Plaza, a large grass square. Around the same time, the city demolished the aging Cheonggye elevated expressway and restored Cheonggyecheon Stream. Seoul Plaza has since become a landmark visited by hundreds of thousands of citizens each season, hosting attractions such as the Seoul Outdoor Library and an ice skating rink. Cheonggyecheon has also become a popular rest area and pedestrian route for both locals and foreigners crossing the city center.

Mayor Oh Se-hoon is strengthening the "Walkable Seoul" policy. This year, the city will invest 28.6 billion won to refurbish 85 kilometers of sidewalks in the downtown area. The aim is to enhance pedestrian convenience by replacing damaged or aging sidewalks. To prevent major pedestrian accidents such as the wrong-way driving incident at City Hall Station last year, which resulted in nine fatalities, the city will also expand the installation of protective barriers for sidewalks. In addition, by the end of this year, Seoul plans to establish the "2040 Future Seoul Sidewalk Master Plan," laying the groundwork for long-term improvements to the urban pedestrian environment.

However, there are pedestrian policies that have yet to yield clear results. In 2017, former Mayor Park Won-soon promoted the transformation of "car roads into people roads" by converting the Seoul Station overpass into the elevated pedestrian walkway "Seoullo 7017." However, as the number of visitors declined, calls for its demolition emerged. The number of visitors to Seoullo 7017 decreased from 8.15 million in 2019 to 6.41 million last year. In response to a question about the potential demolition of Seoullo 7017 during a National Assembly audit in 2023, Mayor Oh stated, "There have been suggestions at the working-level department regarding the future of Seoullo 7017," and added, "A related study is currently underway, and we will make a careful decision about demolition based on an objective evaluation." Regarding this, a city official said, "We are preparing for the redevelopment of the Seoul Station area, but there are currently no specific plans regarding Seoullo 7017."