Construction of Plaza at Gwanghwamun Begins

An artist’s concept of “Gwanghwamun Plaza,” the new landmark of Seoul, which will be constructed in the middle of the 16-lane Sejongno, a main artery in the downtown area

By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter

Seoul city began construction Wednesday of a public plaza in Gwanghwamun to allow citizens' easier access to Gyeongbok Palace. It plans to complete the construction by June 2009.

Named ``Gwanghwamun Plaza,'' the new landmark of the city will link the palace and the restored Cheonggye Stream, which represents connecting the past with the present, an official said.

The plaza will be located in the center of the 16-lane Sejongno, a main artery in the downtown area, and zebra crossings will be installed to provide the public with easy access to the plaza.

But the 34-meter-wide plaza will be extended further for special occasions by incorporating four or six lanes of Sejongno.

The project for the 740-meter-long and 34-meter-wide plaza was first announced last December by the city government and the construction was originally scheduled to begin in February as part of the city government's project to enhance the city's appearance.

But construction work was delayed due to opposition from the National Police Agency, which said the plaza could be abused as a venue for massive illegal protests.

``At first, it was true that there was discord between the city government and police,'' the official said. ``But the police accepted our promise to keep the plaza free from illegal protests.''

The plaza will have models of old streets and historic structures from the Joseon Kingdom and a small pond and fountain. The city government plans to reenact various historical events on the plaza to attract tourists as well.

But as the city pursues the massive construction project, citizens have to deal with inconveniences, including traffic congestion.

It is expected that the 16-lane road will be clogged by the construction and even after completion only 10 lanes will be available.

The city government has already appointed a special team of experts to solve the problem of traffic congestion and plans to employ several bypasses, the official said.

e3dward@koreatimes.co.kr

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