Seoul to preserve old restaurants, hardware streets in Euiljiro

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon speaks during a press conference at Seoul City Hall, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

By Kang Seung-woo

The Seoul city government will seek measures to preserve streets of old-fashioned hardware stores and time-honored restaurants in the Euljiro area of downtown Seoul that are faced with demolition due to a redevelopment project, Mayor Park Won-soon said, Wednesday.

“We need to look back on the past's development method that disregarded the nation's culture, tradition and history. It is not appropriate to bulldoze urban industrial districts in the name of redevelopment,” Park said during a press conference at Seoul City Hall.

“In that respect, we need to explore ways to preserve traditional and historical things and reflect them in the development plan. That might not be easy, but it will help a city retain and develop its attractions.”

He added: “The Seoul Metropolitan Government will come up with a specific plan for the issue soon.”

His remarks came after the ongoing Euljiro redevelopment project is set to demolish famous Korean restaurants, including Eulji Myeonok that has been serving Pyongyang-style cold noodles for 33 years, and Yangmiok that specializes in beef intestines. In addition, alleys lined with countless hardware stores are also leaving the area.

The development plan is drawing complaints that Euljiro, currently emerging as a hip place among the young generations and foreigners thanks to its dynamic ecosystem of hardware stores, garage-sized factories and eateries, could lose its unique charm.

As for the worsening fine dust issue, Park said the city government is implementing various methods to address the issue.

“Seoul City has taken all possible measures against the air pollution, but we still do not have a very satisfactory situation and need to seek additional measures,” he said, adding the city government will focus on helping households switch their current boilers to eco-friendly condensing boilers.

“Condensing boilers could reduce the fine dust concentration level quite a bit,” he said.