Seoul to create 10 forests to attract repeat tourists

[Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government]

The Seoul city government will create “symbolic” forests at ten gateways to Seoul by 2026 as part of its efforts to make the city an attractive destination for tourists to revisit.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Sunday the ten locations where the forests would be situated, welcoming visitors to the city. These ten locations are: five areas near the primary entrances to the city’s highways, such as Olympic-daero and Gyeongbu Expressway, including Gangil, Yangjae, Sinwol, Gaehwa, and Sangam, and five other areas situated at the secondary entrances, including Gwangjang, Sadang, Siheung, Jingwan, and Dobong.

Earlier last month, the city government unveiled a comprehensive plan to enhance Seoul’s tourism infrastructure in the four key strategic areas of accommodation, hospitality, hygiene, and entertainment. The planned forests fall under the hospitality and hygiene category. “By creating a pleasant urban environment befitting a world-class tourist city, we intend to leave a positive impression and increase the rate of revisits in the long term,” the city government said.

In adddition, management for the “green buffer zones” alongside Olympic-daero, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Gangbyeonbuk-ro will be increased. “These buffer zones have traditionally focused solely on functions like blocking views and reducing noise for the adjacent residential areas. But, as these are part of the first entry point to the city, these areas will be under the city’s management to give a good first impression,” the city explained, adding that it will develop integrated guidelines and address management blind spots for systematic and sustainable maintenance.

The city also selected five downtown tourist destinations, including the Seochon food street, Ikseon-dong food stall street, and Jongno flower market. For these five destinations that are frequented by pedestrians, the city plans to create special streets that reflect local characteristics and enhance the pedestrian environment. These efforts will include wider sidewalks and eliminating gaps between the sidewalks and roads.

The design of public facilities, such as construction site screens and public restrooms, will also be updated. Alongside the redesign, the city government will create guidelines that can be applied when either public or private entities construct such facilities, with a target to distribute them by the end of the year, while developing smoking booths that harmonize with the urban landscape and minimize indirect smoking hazards to be installed across the city.

In major transportation hubs with a high influx of tourists, traveler-exclusive spaces will be built. These lounges will not only provide tourist information via their information desks but also enhance the convenience of tourists by offering currency exchange, charging stations, and storage services while fostering interaction among visitors.