Seoullo 7017

Seoullo 7017
Jaeim Shin
As the remarkable economic growth of Korea began in the 1960s, the Seoul station overpass was designed to cope with heavy traffic congestion. It regarded as a symbol of Seoul for the last 45 years. However, the safety issue had been brought every year, since the 1990s. So, the Seoul Metropolitan Government decided to tear down the overpass, but they changed their mind to turn the overpass for people.
In April 2017, the Seoul station overpass finally rebirthed as ‘Seoullo 7017.’ It became an oasis of Seoul and marked as one of the famous tourist spots. In this place, there are three spots that we need to go: skygarden, pebble foot pool, and Seoullo gallery. Along Seoullo’s main pathway, we can see wonderful flora from end to end. Large plant pots, flowering plants, and fruit-bearing plants are settled in everywhere. Visitors can have a relaxing walk and learn more about the plant life in the skygarden. As long as we walk down the Seoullo, there is a public shallow foot pool. Visitors often take rest and soak their legs in fresh water. It re-filled every two to three hours so that many people can use the pebble foot pool without any worries. The Seoullo Gallery holds different exhibitions and events related to art and design. Every month, artists exhibit their works and give visitors chance to see the exhibition. For instance, during September and October 2017, the artist Woosung Lee held the “Kiss Kiss” exhibition. It explores series of the happiest moments towards his artworks. Artists and designers such as Jung Hye-Ryun and Choi Yun Seok are scheduled to exhibit in the Seoullo Gallery.
However, some criticize that does it always draw the benefits of nature into the urban fabric and does Seoullo 7017 solves the fundamental problem of traffic congestion. They argue that the other traffic congestion is created on nearby Yeomcheon Bridge and have an impact on local businesses. Instead, Seoullo 7017 remains an oasis in Seoul, a broad and busy city, and it is true that many people have patience to walk inside of nature. Like the original goal of the Seoul station 7017 project, Seoullo 7017 still “call people together to the road where there are no more vehicles.”