Seoul to increase pedestrian access

By Yun Suh-young

As part of a 63 billion won year-long spending plan to improve public areas, Seoul City on Monday announced a plan to increase the number of pedestrian walkways in crowded parts of the city and restrict vehicle access to such districts.

Beginning in March, on every third Sunday of the month, a 550-meter-area spanning from the Gwanghwamun intersection in front of Gyeongbok Palace to the Sejongro junction will be designated as a pedestrian zone.

If the trial operation is received positively, the city plans to increase the frequency of pedestrian-only access to once a week.

The scheme is not just restricted to Gwanghwamun in central Seoul. Itaewon High Street, Gangnam-daero and Donhwamun-no in Jongno will be designated as pedestrian-only streets during weekends.

Other thoroughfares such as a street in Itaewon with a concentration of international restaurants, the ‘fashion street’ in Dongdaemun, and a street in Hongdae popular with young people will also become pedestrian access only areas throughout the year.

Streets only to be used by school children will also be created.

During commuting hours, roads in front of schools will be restricted to vehicles. Ten streets in front of schools in the city will be designated as trial streets for evaluation. A “zone” for school children will also be on trial across seven regions in five districts until 2014.

More crossings will be created in major streets in Seoul and the length of time the green light is shown on pedestrian crossings will be extended from the current 1 second per 1 meter to 1 second per 0.8 meters.

The city also plans to increase elevators and escalators in subway stations by 2,678 until 2014 and boost the number of bus stations with automated voice information service to 400.

Three major historic or shopping tourist destinations in Seoul will be designated as “promenades” where visitors can enjoy walking.