At last year’s Jamsugyo Bridge festival, which showcased the ‘Car-less Jamsugyo Bridge Walking Festival,’ nearly a million enthusiastic citizens took part in the event. (Image courtesy of the The Seoul Metropolitan Government)
SEOUL, Feb. 29 (Korea Bizwire) – The Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced an ambitious plan to convert Jamsugyo Bridge into the Han River’s inaugural pedestrian-only bridge, as part of the “Great Han River Project.”
This initiative aims to offer a new way to experience the river by allowing individuals to walk across it, enhancing accessibility and engagement with one of the city’s most iconic natural features.
Jamsugyo, known for being the shortest bridge across the Han River and its proximity to the water’s surface, is seen as having significant potential as a footbridge due to its ease of pedestrian access.
The city has highlighted these attributes as key factors in its decision to repurpose the bridge for pedestrian use.
To achieve the transformation of Jamsugyo into a footbridge by the first half of 2026, the city is launching the “Cultural Bridge, Jamsugyo Design Competition.”
This competition is open to five teams previously selected through an international contest held last September, aimed at planning the full pedestrianization of Jamsugyo.
These teams will now compete for the right to carry out the detailed design work necessary for the bridge’s conversion.
The winner of this competitive process will be announced in May, with the selected design set to undergo basic and detailed design phases as part of the bridge’s transformation.
The competition emphasizes the need for creative designs that maximize Seoul’s charm and propose sustainable content and programming strategies that align with the pedestrian bridge’s objectives.
Safety measures to harmonize the coexistence of pedestrians, cyclists, and personal mobility device users are also a critical component of the contest criteria.
To ensure expertise and fairness throughout the competition, the city has assembled operational and judging committees comprising specialists from various fields, starting from the preparatory stages of the contest.
The image shows the Jamsugyo Bridge, where Louis Vuitton hosted the Free Fall fashion show. (Image provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government)
Seoul is also committed to providing citizens with a preview of Jamsugyo’s transformation. During the “Car-Free Jamsugyo Footloose Festival” in May, a virtual reality (VR) exhibition space will be set up to offer a simulated experience of the pedestrianized bridge.
Lim Chang-soo, Seoul’s Director of Future Space Planning, expressed optimism about the project, stating, “Jamsugyo will become a space where citizens can enjoy and experience the Han River more intimately.
As the first pedestrian bridge over the Han River and a bridge of culture, we are dedicated to developing Jamsugyo into a creative and innovative landmark that enhances the charm and value of Seoul.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
