Cheongjin Park / Courtesy of Jongno District Office
Cheongjin Park, a modest pocket of greenery tucked away in the glass-and-steel canyons of central Gwanghwamun, has reopened as an urban garden, its redesign a deliberate attempt to provide a sanctuary for office workers and tourists fleeing the claustrophobia of the capital city's main thoroughfares.
Jongno District Office said the renovation of the park in Cheongjin-dong was completed as part of the district’s participation in the 2026 Seoul International Garden Show and its local garden development initiative.
The project removed the aging walls and outdated facilities that had long separated the park from surrounding pedestrian areas. In their place, the district introduced open gardens, resting areas and cultural spaces intended to create what officials described as a more accessible and sensory urban landscape.
Renovation work began in March and lasted about a month, according to the district office.
A central feature of the redesigned park is a large gardening table installed in the newly opened central plaza. The space is currently used as a public seating area but will later host outdoor gardening programs and hands-on activities tied to nearby community garden initiatives.
The district also added a new water feature called “Cheongjinryu,” a narrow, flowing stream designed to provide both visual and auditory relief in the middle of the city. The sound of running water and newly planted greenery now fill the park, creating a quieter atmosphere than the surrounding office towers and busy streets.
Since reopening, the park has quickly gained attention among nearby office workers and international visitors seeking a brief escape during lunch hours and weekends. Visitors have gathered around the gardening tables and shaded green spaces, drawn by the contrast between the traditional Korean architecture and contemporary garden design.
A Jongno District official said Cheongjin Park reflects “the harmony of traditional hanok buildings and modern gardens,” adding that the district plans to continue expanding garden and cultural spaces throughout the area.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
Source: Korea Times News
