Seoul designates public transport zones; Seorae Village becomes Korea's first 'pedestrian paradise'

▲ Starting now, Seorae Village’s “Yonsei-ro” and “Myeongmul-gil” have been designated as a public transport zone, with parts of it becoming a 'pedestrian paradise' on weekends. The image is only a schematic of Seorae Village (Photo / fromSeoul Korea fan page)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Seoul now has its own 'pedestrian paradise' too. South Korea has decided to designate Seorae Village’s “Yonsei-ro” and “Myeongmul-gil” as the country’s first public transport-only zone starting January (2014), turning the entire street into a pedestrian-only area during specified weekend hours. Both locals and international visitors can enjoy shopping in a more comfortable space.

Seorae Village is one of the must-visit shopping and sightseeing spots for tourists in Seoul, besides Dongdaemun and Myeongdong. However, due to narrow sidewalks, walking among the crowds sometimes feels a bit cramped. After several months of renovation and road paving, ahead of Lunar New Year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that Yonsei-ro and Myeongmul-gil will be designated as the first public transport-only special zone—meaning only buses, bicycles, and emergency vehicles will be allowed to pass through, while general vehicles will be prohibited.

In addition, every weekend from 2 p.m. on Saturdays until 10 p.m. on Sundays, the street will be fully closed to traffic, following the same model as Tokyo’s Ginza “Pedestrian Paradise,” turning the entire area into a true walking street. The policy’s effectiveness will be evaluated for potential implementation in other areas in the future.