Seoul city said on the 15th that it will resume operating the "car-free street" on the north side of Cheonggyecheon from the Cheonggye 2-ga intersection to the Gwanggyo intersection starting Jan. 1.
Accordingly, vehicle traffic will be banned from 2 p.m. Saturday to 10 p.m. Sunday, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on public holidays.
This section was banned to vehicle traffic in 2005 under the "Seoul Metropolitan City Act on the Promotion of Pedestrian Safety and Convenience," to provide a pleasant walking space in the city center and raise civic awareness of walking culture.
However, nearby business districts repeatedly proposed lifting the ban, citing reasons such as decreased sales.
In response, Seoul city allowed vehicle traffic from July 12 to the end of this year. The aim was to analyze information such as business district sales and pedestrian volumes before and after the traffic ban.
Seoul city plans to review the information collected in this way and decide on the direction of car-free street operations for the first half of next year.
Yeo Jang-kwon, head of transportation at Seoul city, said, "We will make reasonable policy decisions based on listening to diverse opinions and on-site analysis."