Parks secured through redevelopment and reconstruction links; three focus areas include street forest paths and riverside ecological restoration
Green corridors to connect parks, roads and waterways along Jungnangcheon, Seongbukcheon and Jeongneungcheon
Seoul's Dongdaemun-gu has drawn up a green space expansion plan — dubbed "A Greener Dongdaemun-gu" — to bring more nature into residents' daily lives, with phased implementation running through 2030.
Working toward the goal of "green within a five-minute walk," the district will invest a total of 14.3 billion won ($10.6 million) from October 2026 through December 2030 to expand its parks and green areas.
The initiative centers on three areas: securing new parks and green spaces through urban development projects, creating inviting street forest paths, and restoring riverside ecosystems while expanding greenery along waterways.
The district will first work to secure new parks and green spaces in tandem with redevelopment and reconstruction projects. The plan calls for supplementing the existing shortage of green space in the urban core and ensuring that parks and greenery created through development projects connect seamlessly with existing residential green areas.
Alongside this, the district will develop street forest paths designed to draw pedestrians in. Street trees and green strips along major roads will be improved to reflect local character, while greening projects — including garden-style green strips and traffic-island street gardens — will transform bare road spaces into pleasant, attractive green walkways.
Green space along the Jungnangcheon, Seongbukcheon and Jeongneungcheon rivers will also be expanded. The district plans to plant trees and seasonal flowering plants in idle and riverside spaces, creating waterfront green areas that offer a changing landscape with each season and serve as places for residents to rest and relax.
Beyond developing and managing street trees, green strips, riverside greenery and parks as separate elements, the district will link green spaces throughout residential areas into a single green network, giving residents easy access to nature close to home.
"Green space is not just about improving the urban landscape — it is an important living environment that enhances residents' daily lives and quality of life," Dongdaemun-gu District Mayor Choi Dong-min said. "We will expand parks and green areas in connection with urban development projects, and create street forest paths and riverside greenery so that residents can enjoy nature right where they live, making Dongdaemun-gu an even greener place."
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