The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that it has designated three new streets in Seoul as pedestrian-friendly streets to attract more visitors and revitalize local economies.

The three designated streets are Majo-ro 11-gil near Hanyang University in Seongdong-gu, Seokchonhosu-gil in Songpa-gu and Seongbuk-ro in Seongbuk-gu. 

These streets will each be turned into leisure attractions, respectively named “Cafe Street,” “Tour Street” and “Art Street.” The city’s main pedestrian-friendly streets include Shinchon’s Yonse-ro, the streets alongside Deoksugung Palace and the road up Mount Namsan. 

Seoul City said in a statement that as Majo-ro 11-gil in Seongdong-gu is mainly crowded with restaurants, cafes and students from nearby Hanyang University, it would set up more squares for residents and install urban sculptures to convert the area into a street for foodies and cafe lovers.

Seokchonhosu-gil in Songpa-gu will see revamped main roads as the area is notorious for traffic congestion near the country’s tallest shopping center, Lotte World Shopping Mall. 

An official at City Transportation Headquarters said the city expects the better roadside environment and green areas to increase visitor numbers to the shop-lined boulevard. The city also plans to build more bus parking lots to drop off visitors.

Seoul’s northeastern district Seongbuk-gu’s Seongbuk-ro, home to galleries such as Gansong Art Museum and historical sites including monk Manhae Han Yong-wun’s house, Simwujang, will be given a much wider sidewalk. The city government said it would rebuild the six-lane-road into a two-lane road, expanding walking space for pedestrians.

Shin Yong-mok, the director of City Transportation Headquarters, said in a statement that, “While Seoul used to focus on constructing the metropolitan downtown area, it is now transforming into a pedestrian-friendly city that can attract local residents and visitors.”

By Kim Da-sol (ddd@heraldcorp.com)