Seoul transforms former landfill into sprawling riverside escape

Noeul Park in Seoul’s World Cup Park complex / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

World Cup Park, a sprawling green space built atop a former municipal landfill, is undergoing a major redesign to reinforce its position as a primary retreat for the capital city’s northwestern districts.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that the sweeping project will add new forested paths, linear gardens and enhanced observation points to better connect the park's distinct ecological zones.

The site, known historically as Nanjido, served as the city's primary waste dump from 1978 to 1993 before undergoing a massive environmental stabilization and restoration effort. Today, it is split into specialized sectors, including Noeul Park, celebrated for its sunset views over the Han River, and Haneul Park, famous for its elevated meadows of silver grass.

A central component of the new initiative is a 1-kilometer extension of the park's redwood paths. Opening Friday, the new section completes a 2.3-kilometer continuous promenade known as the World Cup Park Metasequoia Road. City planners have installed wooden deck entryways and rest areas along the trail to accommodate walkers throughout the seasons. This path links directly to a recently completed "Z-shaped" southern staircase, designed to ease crowd congestion during peak autumn festivals by smoothing pedestrian flow from the nearby Nanji Han River Park up to the ridges.

The city has also designed 10 distinct linear gardens along major entrance routes connecting Haneul and Noeul parks, featuring seasonal flora such as red plum blossoms and hydrangeas. Four of these locations have been retrofitted with specialized rest areas tailored specifically for urban runners.

Beyond internal trails, municipal workers are targeting the park's outward aesthetic by clearing invasive vine species from the southern slopes. They are replacing them with flowering trees, including king cherries and Korean evodia. The Haneul Park slope renovations are scheduled for completion in June, followed by the Noeul Park sections later this year.

“This initiative leverages the unique natural assets of both Haneul and Noeul parks,” said Kim Young-hwan, director of Seoul's Garden City Bureau.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.