Seoul to create garden, park on grounds of underappreciated Gyeonghui Palace

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Wednesday announced a plan to create a history and culture park in and around Gyeonghui Palace in central Seoul, turning a lesser-known area into an urban oasis.

A rendered image provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government shows people resting in green spaces between Donuimun Museum Village and Gyeonghui Palace. [SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT]

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Wednesday announced a plan to create a history and culture park in and around Gyeonghui Palace in central Seoul, turning a lesser-known area into an urban oasis.

On 136,000 square meters (33.6 acres) of land inside and near the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) palace, a historic garden will be created by 2026, and a large-scale public park — 10 times larger than Seoul Plaza — will be established by 2035.

The project aims to attract more visitors to the area by transforming the largely ignored site into a relaxing space and elevating the palace's profile.

On average, Gyeonghui Palace receives about 1,500 visitors daily, a low number compared to nearby Gyeongbok Palace, which receives 57,000 visitors daily. Deoksu Palace also receives around 28,000 visitors daily.

Inside the Gyeonghui palace compound, the city will reduce non-historic elements such as motorways and amplify environmentally friendly and historic nature by creating a space dubbed the “King’s garden.”

The city will renovate the spaces between the palace's main entrance and main gate and the palace's main hall. A state committee governing cultural heritage reviewed and approved this specific renovation plan on July 10.

Aerial view shows land that is subject to the Seoul Metropolitan Government's development plan. [SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT]

The development plan is expected to modernize the grounds and outdated buildings of the National Meteorological Museum of Korea, Seoul Open City University and its garage, Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and Donuimun Museum Village, all of which are adjacent to the palace.

The city government will create a complex cultural space on land occupied by Seoul Open City University, its garage and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. The education office will move to Yongsan District in 2026.

The city will review the relocation of the Seoul Museum of History as it covers much of a historic path reserved for the Joseon Dynasty’s kings.

It will also pursue a long-term effort to restore Donuimun — one of the four main old gates — after canvassing the public. The old western gate of the Joseon Dynasty’s capital was demolished during Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule. The three other gates survived.

“Now is the time where the new paradigm on future-oriented usage of natural heritage should be devised,” said Cho Nam-jun, head of Seoul's urban planning team, noting that the development plan could revitalize the area and help it to become the city’s new landmark.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]