Mayor Lee Sunhee’s Vision for ‘Gangbuk-Style Wellness Tourism’
“A City Where Nature and People Coexist”
The Jaeganjeong complex cultural space, located along the Uicheon Stream in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, serves as an urban oasis where a 40-meter-long glass exterior wall, an open view, a book-filled reading area, and an analog LP listening zone harmoniously coexist.
Through the windows, visitors can take in the scenery of Uicheon Stream and Bukhansan Mountain at a glance. Inside, they can listen to music on a turntable or enjoy reading newly released comic books in another area, all at their leisure. Admission and use of the facilities are free of charge.
Lee Sunhee, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, explaining the Gangbuk-style wellness tourism project at the Uicheon Waterside Vitality Hub. Provided by Gangbuk-gu.
The central cafe at Jaeganjeong offers desserts such as "Boseong Green Tea Shaved Ice" from the sister city, "Bukhansan Farm Strawberry Shaved Ice," "Dangjin Red Clay Roasted Sweet Potato," and "Gangbuk Bread (New Office Design)," as well as drinks like "Organic Chamomile" and "Bukhansan Farm Lime Mojito." Residents of Gangbuk-gu receive a 10% discount.
During an interview at Jaeganjeong on November 6, Lee Sunhee, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, "To support local businesses, we have agreed to sell only Americano coffee and have placed an emphasis on eco-friendliness." She added, "Jaeganjeong, the complex cultural space along the Uicheon Stream, will become one of the key hubs for the Gangbuk-style wellness initiative." She further stated, "We are in discussions with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to create an outdoor swimming pool along the Uicheon Stream for residents to enjoy."
Gangbuk-gu hosts a variety of year-round events along the Uicheon Stream, such as the "Baekmaek Festival," a craft beer festival. With the opening of Jaeganjeong, the area is expected to become a local landmark and contribute to revitalizing the nearby commercial district.
Waterside Vitality Hub in Harmony with the Community
Jaeganjeong is a waterside vitality hub-type complex cultural space jointly created by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Gangbuk-gu. It opened on October 20 with a total budget of 3.5 billion won. The name Jaeganjeong, meaning "pavilion in the valley," was chosen to carry on the tradition and cultural spirit of the pavilion that once stood at the ninth and final bend of the old Uigugok. The building is a single-story structure with a total floor area of 330.9 square meters, featuring a cafe, a book zone, an LP music listening zone, and other diverse cultural spaces.
The cafe menu reflects the values of regional cooperation and local economic circulation. Collaborative resources such as apple mint from the Gangbuk smart farm, ginger from Goseong, and green tea from Boseong are used. Menu overlap with nearby businesses is minimized, and takeout is only available in eco-friendly tumblers.
Going forward, the district plans to develop Jaeganjeong into a daily healing destination by hosting seasonal cultural programs such as flea markets, outdoor performances, and exhibitions. In addition, by linking Jaeganjeong with local commercial areas like the Uicheon Stream vicinity, Baeknyeon Market, and Suyu Food Alley, Gangbuk-gu aims to establish Jaeganjeong as a hub for local economic circulation.
Residents enjoying analog music and relaxing through LP listening at the Uicheon Waterfront Vitality Hub 'Jaeganjeong.' Provided by Gangbuk-gu.
Promoting Gangbuk-Style Wellness Integrated into Daily Life
Mayor Lee stated, "The vision for Gangbuk-style wellness goes beyond tourism to realize 'wellness in everyday life.' Based on the area's outstanding natural environment, including Bukhansan Mountain, Uicheon Stream, and Northern Seoul Dream Forest, we will create a city where people can enjoy a culture of healing and recovery in their daily lives."
In April, the district established the "Gangbuk-style Bukhansan Wellness Tourism Promotion Plan (2025-2030)" and specified future directions and objectives tailored to the local context.
In particular, to connect wellness resources dispersed throughout Gangbuk-gu, the district plans to establish a "Wellness Anchor Facility" near Bukhansan Mountain. This facility will serve as a central hub for forest healing, experiential, and educational programs, and is expected to become a key foundation for completing the Gangbuk-style wellness network.
To ensure that residents can directly experience the wellness tourism initiative, the district operated 15 pilot wellness programs at six local tourist attractions between September and October. A total of about 170 residents participated in interactive programs such as "Finding Hidden Sounds in Bukhansan" and "Discovering Hidden Colors Within Me," receiving enthusiastic responses.
Next year, Gangbuk-gu plans to actively discover and develop unique local wellness tourism resources to establish the "Gangbuk-style Wellness Tourism Model" and, by fostering tourist destinations, lay the foundation for building the wellness industry ecosystem and revitalizing the local economy.
Mayor Lee emphasized, "Gangbuk-style wellness tourism is Gangbuk's future strategy and a model for urban innovation that helps people of all generations design healthy lives. Moving forward, Gangbuk will transform the entire city into a healing space where nature and people coexist and where culture and the economy circulate together, becoming Seoul's leading wellness hub city."
Last September, the wellness program "Finding the Hidden Resonance in My Heart" was held at the Seoul Hiking Tourism Center Bukhansan. Provided by Gangbuk-gu.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
