Tag: Gwanghwamun Square

Seoul to Redevelop Gwanghwamun Square

They should have put protester tents in the concept photo because that is what people are going to see mostly at Gwanghwamun Square:

A sketch of the new design for Gwanghwamun Square. [SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT]
A sketch of the new design for Gwanghwamun Square. [SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT]

Construction on Gwanghwamun Square will commence next month as the Seoul city government tries to turn it into something more like a park and less like a traffic island.    
   
“The roads on the east side of the square will be changed in a stage-by-stage manner so as to incur the least possible traffic difficulties,” the Seoul Metropolitan Government said in a statement Sunday. “The construction will start at the end of October.”  
   
The city government’s plan to revamp the square was first announced in 2018. It involved expanding the square westward and incorporating the southbound roads between the square and the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, and rerouting the roads in front of Gyeongbok Palace to incorporate that area into the square as well.  
   
Some experts warned of traffic nightmares and the public opposed earlier plans, leading to major changes.  
   
The southbound roads west of the square will still be incorporated, but not the roads in front of the palace. Instead the five lanes of northbound traffic on the eastern side will be expanded to three going in one direction and four going in the other. 

Joong Ang Ilbo

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