Foreigners pick Gwanghwamun Square as Seoul's top landmark

Foreigners residing in Seoul voted for Gwanghwamun Square as Seoul's most prominent landmark.

People spend their afternoons picknicking at Banpo Hangang Park on April 28. [NEWS1]

Foreigners residing in Seoul voted for Gwanghwamun Square as Seoul's most prominent landmark.

Korean residents of Seoul chose the Han River, recent survey results showed.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on May 9 unveiled the results of the "2023 Seoul Survey” conducted on 20,000 Korean households — 35,881 individuals over the age of 15 — and 2,500 foreigners in Seoul.

According to the survey, 48.3 percent of Seoul residents chose the Han River, which divides the capital into two parts, as the city's symbolic destination, marking the first time in 13 years the waterway has topped the list. Gwanghwamum Square, a public square where the statues of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-shin stand, came in second with 36.1 percent, followed by the city's historic palaces at 32.3 percent.

Among foreigners resigning in Seoul for over 91 days, Gwanghwamun Square was the most popular choice, with 45.9 percent of the vote. The palaces followed with 41.4 percent and Dongdaemun Design Plaza with 25.6 percent. The Han River came in fourth.

Kids splash around in the water at a fountain in Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on May 4, as the midday temperature in Seoul rose to an early summer-like weather. [NEWS1]

Despite many Seoul residents recognizing the importance of leisure, a significant portion lead work-centric lives. In the survey, 47 percent of those in their 30s and 40s said they prioritize work over leisure, as did 39.2 percent of those in their 50s.

Their satisfaction with leisure life increased from 5.27 points out of 10 in 2020 to 5.70 points in 2023.

The same data also found that 88.5 percent of Seoul citizens visited parks in the last six months, primarily to take a break.

Most visited small parks near their residence, accounting for 82.8 percent, with forests trailing at 52.3 percent and large parks at 47.5 percent.

Two of three Seoul residents, or 68.6 percent, enjoyed their free time by the river, primarily for walking, marking 90.1 percent.

Satisfaction with parks and forests within a 15-minute walk rose from 46.1 percent in 2021 to 51.6 percent.

“We were able to thoroughly explore the lives and values of Seoul citizens through the survey results,” said Park Jin-young, digital policy director at Seoul's city government. “We will continue to conduct surveys and collect data in various areas.”

BY CHOI SEO-IN, WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]