Seoul is set to introduce its inaugural overpass park in 2027. (Image courtesy of Seoul city)
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Korea Bizwire) – Seoul is set to introduce its inaugural overpass park in 2027, spanning 10,000 square meters over the Olympic Expressway from Banpobon-dong to Banpo Han River Park in Seocho District.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced plans on February 1 to develop the new park and cultural facilities, incorporating the overpass park as part of the Banpo Jugong 1 Complex (Sectors 1, 2, and 4) redevelopment project.
The new park, created through public contributions from the redevelopment of the Banpo Jugong 1 Complex, will cover a total area of 53,362 square meters, including the complex and nearby small parks. Of this, 10,000 square meters will be dedicated to the overpass park and a 3,300 square meter exhibition hall, with an estimated total project cost of approximately 113.62 billion KRW.
Currently, the Olympic Expressway acts as a barrier to accessing the Han River Park, necessitating the use of overpasses or pedestrian bridges. The planned overpass park aims to provide direct pedestrian access to the Han River Park, facilitating a seamless connection across the expressway.
The park will feature a multifunctional cultural space capable of hosting various cultural events, including an exhibition hall showcasing the history and evolution of modern Korean apartment living, as well as community facilities.
In an effort to fully embrace the significance of the site, which marks the beginning of Gangnam development and stands as Seoul’s first overpass park atop an urban expressway, the city has initiated an international design competition starting today.
The competition will be conducted in two phases to evaluate detailed design proposals, including design and structural feasibility. The first phase will assess design concepts to select finalists, while the second phase will invite more detailed and viable proposals for final selection.
The jury will be chaired by Kim Yong-mi, head of Geumseong Architects & Engineers, and includes notable members such as Michael Manfredi, who designed the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle, among seven jurors and three reserve jurors.
The city will host a briefing session on the competition at Seoul City Hall on the February 13 at 3 p.m., offering simultaneous translation in Korean and English, with the event also being livestreamed on YouTube.
Lim Chang-soo, Seoul’s Director of Future Space Planning, stated, “We will spare no effort in providing administrative support for the international design competition, aiming to create a creative and innovative park design that will become a new landmark for Seoul.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
