Seoul finalizes master plan for Songhyeon Cultural Park

People enjoy themselves on the lawn of Songhyeon Cultural Park.

(Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Government/courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)

Seoul has finalized the blueprint for Songhyeon Cultural Park, a flagship project symbolizing the city’s urban green and cultural policy vision.

The plan was at the second Urban Park Committee meeting, clearing the way for the transformation of the former Songhyeon-dong site in Jongno-gu into a fully realized cultural park in the heart of downtown.

Originally opened temporarily to the public in 2022, the site will now be permanently returned to citizens as a large-scale green and cultural space where nature, history, and urban life intersect.

The park will include approximately 18,544㎡ of green space, along with plazas, pathways, water features, and rest facilities. Underground, parking facilities will accommodate 270 passenger vehicles on the first basement level and 90 tour buses on the second and third basement levels.

Restoring Nature in the Urban Core

Designed under the concept of “A pause in the city, where nature and culture flow,” the park will reconnect pedestrian routes with surrounding neighborhoods while preserving open sightlines toward Inwangsan and Bugaksan. Architectural elements will be placed along the perimeter, leaving the center open to emphasize expansive views and natural landscape continuity.

A restored pine forest and hillside area will reinterpret the site’s historic pine-covered terrain, while features such as a “borrowed landscape” pergola, a flowing waterway, shaded rest areas, and storytelling installations will encourage visitors to linger rather than simply pass through. Historical narratives of the Songhyeon area will be integrated into seating walls and signage throughout the park.

A Cultural Platform at the Center

At the heart of the park will be “Songhyeon Cultural Plaza,” a 6,200㎡ open space comparable in scale to Seoul Plaza. Designed as a flexible cultural platform, the plaza will host performances, exhibitions, festivals, and civic programs, evolving with public participation rather than relying on fixed structures.

The park will also feature a seasonal garden space showcasing distinctive Seoul plant varieties, offering a landscape that changes color and character throughout the year.

Integrating Architecture and Landscape

Given the large underground parking structure, careful planning has been undertaken to ensure harmony between built infrastructure and green space. Essential facilities such as ventilation systems will be discreetly integrated into the landscape design, while the parking entrance canopy reinterprets the traditional Korean “eaves” motif to create a seamless, layered transition into the park.

The underground parking is expected to support both residents and tour groups, further positioning Songhyeon as a key hub for history, culture, and tourism in central Seoul.

Linked with the Lee Kun-hee Donation Hall

The park will be closely connected with the planned Lee Kun-hee Donation Hall to the east of the site through an integrated spatial layout, allowing seamless movement between the two facilities. An observatory within the museum complex will overlook the cultural plaza, reinforcing the site’s unified design concept.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026 following final design completion and official approvals, with full completion targeted for 2029.

The park’s development will proceed alongside the museum project.

USAG Yongsan