Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon (middle) on Oct. 22 listens to officials of the green makeover project of Paris' 8th arrondissement at the Champs-Elysees in the French capital. (Seoul Metropolitan Government)

By Min Yea-Ji

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on Oct. 22 announced while on a business trip to Paris plans to create a 7-km route from Gwanghwamun in central Seoul to the Hangang River like the Champs-Elysees in the French capital.

His plan to establish a symbolic space in the Korean capital seeks to boost the standing of the venue and extend the vibrancy starting at Gwanghwamun Square to the river.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government in a statement released on Oct. 24 said the mayor visited the 8th arrondissement of Paris, aka Champs-Elysees, where a city-led green makeover project is underway, and announced plans to build an urban green ecosystem on Seoul's main streets that includes a "national iconic road" spanning Gwanghwamun, Seoul Station, Yongsan-gu District and the Hangang.

The makeover project in Paris seeks to renovate the roads of the Champs-Elysees and Place de la Concorde by 2030 into a central green space where history and culture coexist and a public garden. The number of traffic lanes in the area will be halved to four to make room for more rest and green spaces for passersby.

Since last year, Seoul has aimed to make the national iconic street by reducing the size of roads from the intersection of Sejongdae-ro Street in Jongno-gu District to Seoul Station and enlarging pedestrian spaces to twice the area of Seoul Plaza. 

From this year, the city government will reduce the number of roads spanning Seoul Station, Yongsan-gu and Hangang, expand pedestrian walkways and establish bicycle paths in the area.

"The Champs-Elysees and our national iconic road have many similarities in history and culture," the mayor said. "Striving for a major change by expanding the green ecological areas of these global tourist attractions will give much inspiration to the expansion of green zones in downtown Seoul, including the national iconic road."

jesimin@korea.kr