Seo Kangseok, Mayor of Songpa District, Interview
Following the Songpadaero Luxury Street Project
Jamsil Station Street to Become a Garden Street
"Will Consult with Lotte"
"Cities Must Become Pedestrian-Centered Green Cities"
Redevelopment and Reconstruction Accelerated Through Supportive Administration
Songpa District in Seoul is launching a major project to transform Jamsil Station Street into a “garden street” resembling a park, where people can sit, relax, and experience the environment with all five senses.
Seo Kangseok, Mayor of Songpa District, said in an interview at the district office on the 4th, “The wide sidewalks in front of Jamsil Station Street, Lotte World Tower, and Lotte Department Store will be reborn as garden streets offering shade and rest areas. We plan to hold consultations with Lotte soon regarding this project.”
Seogangseok, Mayor of Songpa District, stated in an interview on the 4th, "We plan to hold consultations with Lotte soon to transform Jamsil Station Street into a garden street." Provided by Songpa District.
Mayor Seo explained, “Currently, the area features neat paving blocks and beautifully arranged flower beds, but during heat waves, it is difficult to walk and there are no places to sit and rest. The landscaping is old-fashioned and only looks appealing. We aim to create spaces where citizens visiting Songpa and Jamsil will want to walk, rest under the shade, and stroll leisurely.”
Mayor Seo’s remark, “We cannot leave this place as it is,” carries significant meaning. Jamsil Station Street is surrounded by major commercial facilities such as Lotte World Tower and Lotte Mall, as well as cultural and sports infrastructure like Seokchon Lake and Jamsil Baseball Stadium, attracting many visitors. However, he finds it regrettable that people mostly travel underground and cannot fully experience the city’s charm. Jamsil Station, an interchange for subway lines 2 and 8, has the highest number of passengers and floating population among all 273 stations on Seoul Subway Lines 1 through 8.
The “Jamsil Station Street Garden Project” is Mayor Seo’s second major initiative, aimed at “enhancing Songpa’s brand value and transforming it into a garden city that will become a world-renowned destination.” For his first project, during his term as the 8th popularly elected mayor, he promoted the Songpadaero Luxury Street Development Project, completing 20 out of 25 detailed subprojects over the past three years.
The Songpadaero Luxury Street Development Project involves turning a 1.5 km section from Seokchon Lake Intersection to Garak Market Intersection into a “walkable street garden.” Mayor Seo stated, “We are transforming part of Songpadaero into a new local landmark featuring media art, and we are already seeing improvements in the area’s image and an increase in visitors.”
What he emphasizes most is creating a pedestrian-centered green city by shifting the road system from being vehicle-oriented to expanding pedestrian and green spaces. He asserts that this is the direction not only for Seoul but also for world-class cities in advanced countries. Mayor Seo said, “The remaining task is to reduce the 10-lane Songpadaero to eight lanes and convert the two-lane reduction into pedestrian and green spaces. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency approved the lane reduction after a traffic safety review, concluding that it would not cause any problems for vehicle flow.”
Mayor Seo’s vision is to connect the Han River, Jamsil Station Street, and Seokchon Lake to Garak Market as a continuous green corridor resembling a garden. He pointed out, “When a 10-lane road runs through the heart of a city, it divides the area and turns it into a place dominated by cars. Opposing lane reduction out of fear of traffic congestion is clinging to 1970s development logic, which is outdated in today’s context.”
Mayor Seo referred to this project as “Songpa’s Cheonggyecheon Project.” Just as the restoration of Cheonggyecheon became a symbol of Seoul, transforming Songpadaero will serve as a symbolic turning point for new urban spaces. He emphasized, “Since Songpadaero is managed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, their cooperation and financial support are essential. Given that this aligns with Seoul’s vision of ‘Garden City, Seoul,’ we expect strong solidarity and support.”
Mayor Seo cited the acceleration of redevelopment and reconstruction projects in Songpa District over the past three years, achieved by shifting to a “supportive administration,” as one of his greatest accomplishments. He noted, “Large-scale complexes such as Jamsil 5th Complex and the three major Olympic apartment complexes?Olympic Family, Olympic Athletes’ Media Village, and Asia Athletes’ Village?have all passed safety inspections and are actively pursuing reconstruction through expedited integrated planning during my term.”
He also said, “The redevelopment of the Macheon area has earned the trust of residents as an example of consistent administration in Songpa. The ‘fairness’ Songpa pursues today is not about avoiding responsibility, but about the district office actively intervening to resolve and prevent internal conflicts within associations.”
Mayor Seo stated, “The core projects that I promised to residents as the 8th popularly elected mayor, and which will determine Songpa’s future and urban dignity, are not yet fully complete. I am determined to show everyone the completion of a city that is pleasant to walk in, full of attractions and entertainment, and a premium residential city where nature and culture coexist.”
Sung Sak Seo, Mayor of Songpa District, said, "We will create garden streets in various places, including the Songpa-daero Luxury Street Development Project, to make Songpa a world-class city." Provided by Songpa District.
* Seo Kangseok, Mayor of Songpa District, was born in Dongdaemun District, Seoul, and is a lifelong Seoul resident. He passed the national civil service exam at age 24 and worked as a Seoul city official for 34 years. As head of the Housing Planning Division, he planned the New Town Project, and also served as Seoul’s representative in New York, Chief of Staff to the Mayor, Director of the Human Resources Development Institute, and Director of Finance, retiring as a first-grade civil servant. He also worked as an administrator at the Blue House and as head of management at the Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation.
He is a published poet and novelist, having won the Korean Artist Award from the literary magazine “Open Poetry,” and has served as president of the Seoul District Mayors’ Association since last month.
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