Seoul selects 10 hidden night spots to revive local businesses

The Seoul Metropolitan Government selected 10 locations across the city for its 2026 Seoul Starlight Attractions project to turn underused parks, streams, walking paths and historic districts into evening destinations. The projects are intended to draw visitors into neighborhood streets, encourage longer stays and support nearby businesses. Plans include media art and riverside seating at Heukseok Waterfront Trail and a night-view garden at Baramsan in Seodaemun District. Seoul will provide up to 1 billion won for each site, depending on project plans and administrative requirements.

The city received 27 proposals from 21 districts and chose the 10 sites after document and on-site evaluations.

Evaluators considered accessibility, safety, tourism potential and connections to surrounding businesses.

The Heukseok Waterfront Trail project includes accessible walking paths, a running track and seating overlooking the Han River and Nodeul Island.

The Baramsan project includes an upgraded windmill, illuminated stairways and an expanded observation deck overlooking Sinchon.

Other selected locations include Yangjae Stream, Seongbuk Stream, Mount Baebong, Hwarangdae Railroad Park, Mount Yongma Skywalk, Seokchon Lake and Jeongdong Street.

Published Nov 3, 2026 3:57 pm KST

A nighttime view of Seoul seen from Mount Yongma in Jungnang District, Dec. 18, 2024. Korea Times file

Seoul is looking beyond its famous landmarks to brighten overlooked corners of the city, betting that better nighttime attractions can draw visitors into neighborhood streets and give local businesses a boost.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has selected 10 locations for its 2026 Seoul Starlight Attractions project, which will transform underused parks, streams, walking paths and historic districts into destinations for evening recreation and sightseeing.

The initiative aims to do more than install decorative lighting, encouraging visitors to stay longer, enjoy cultural activities and spend money at nearby restaurants, cafes and traditional markets.

Among the selected sites is Heukseok Waterfront Trail in Dongjak District, where the area beneath an Olympic Expressway bridge will be redesigned with media art, landscape lighting, accessible walking paths, a running track and riverside seating overlooking the Han River and Nodeul Island.

In western Seoul’s Seodaemun District, the local government will transform the Baramsan hill area of Changcheon Neighborhood Park into a night-view garden. The revitalization project includes an upgraded windmill, illuminated stairways, and an expanded observation deck offering sweeping views of the vibrant Sinchon district.

Other projects include lighting installations along Yangjae Stream's metasequoia-lined path in Gangnam District, an illuminated outdoor gallery along Seongbuk Stream and a nighttime walking route through Mount Baebong in Dongdaemun District.

The 10 locations also include Hwarangdae Railroad Park in Nowon District, Mount Yongma Skywalk in Jungnang District, Seokchon Lake in Songpa District and Jeongdong Street's historic buildings in Jung District.

The city received 27 proposals from 21 districts and selected the final 10 after document and on-site evaluations, with experts assessing accessibility, safety, tourism potential and links to surrounding businesses.

Seoul plans to provide up to 1 billion won ($745,400) for each selected location, depending on individual project plans and administrative requirements.

"Resources that make Seoul's nights special are not far away; they are hidden in neighborhood parks, streams and alleys that we pass every day," said Kim Hyun-woo, the office director for Seoul Economic Affairs.

"We will discover the hidden attractions across Seoul so residents can say, 'I never knew such beautiful night views existed in my neighborhood,' and ensure that people visit and stay at night, with that vitality extending to the local economy."

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

首尔市政府选定了市内10个地点，作为其“2026首尔星光景点”项目的试点，旨在将利用率较低的公园、溪流、步道和历史街区改造为夜间休闲场所。该项目旨在吸引游客漫步街区，延长停留时间，并促进周边商户发展。规划方案包括在黑石滨水步道设置媒体艺术装置和河畔座椅，以及在西大门区巴拉姆山打造夜景花园。首尔市政府将根据项目规划和行政要求，为每个地点提供最高10亿韩元的资金。

该市收到了来自 21 个区的 27 份提案，经过文件审查和现场评估后，选出了 10 个地点。

评估人员考虑了可达性、安全性、旅游潜力和与周边企业的联系。

黑石水滨步道项目包括无障碍步行道、跑步道和可俯瞰汉江和诺德岛的座椅。

巴拉姆桑项目包括升级改造风车、安装照明楼梯和扩建观景台，可俯瞰新村。

其他选定地点包括杨才溪、城北溪、白峰山、花郎台铁路公园、龙马山空中步道、石村湖和贞洞街。

发布于2026年11月3日下午3:57（韩国标准时间）

2024年12月18日，从首尔中浪区龙马山眺望首尔夜景。（韩国时报资料图）

首尔正着眼于其著名地标之外，致力于点亮城市中那些被忽视的角落，他们相信，更好的夜间景点能够吸引游客来到街区，并促进当地商业的发展。

首尔市政府已选定 10 个地点作为其 2026 年首尔星光景点项目的一部分，该项目将把未充分利用的公园、溪流、步行道和历史街区改造成夜间休闲和观光的目的地。

该计划旨在做的不仅仅是安装装饰性照明，而是鼓励游客停留更长时间，享受文化活动，并在附近的餐馆、咖啡馆和传统市场消费。

选定的地点之一是铜雀区的黑石滨水步道，奥林匹克高速公路桥下的区域将进行重新设计，包括媒体艺术、景观照明、无障碍步行道、跑道和俯瞰汉江和诺德岛的河畔座椅。

在首尔西部的西大门区，当地政府将把昌川邻里公园的巴拉姆山丘陵地带改造成夜景花园。这项改造工程包括升级风车、增设照明阶梯，以及扩建观景台，使游客能够饱览充满活力的信村地区的壮丽景色。

其他项目包括：在江南区杨才溪沿岸水杉林荫道上安装照明装置；在城北溪沿岸建造一座灯光户外画廊；以及在东大门区白峰山上建造一条夜间步行路线。

这 10 个地点还包括芦原区的花郎台铁路公园、中浪区的龙马山空中步道、松坡区的石村湖以及中区的正东街历史建筑。

该市收到了来自 21 个区的 27 份提案，经过文件审查和现场评估后，最终选出了 10 份提案。专家们从可达性、安全性、旅游潜力和与周边企业的联系等方面进行了评估。

首尔计划为每个选定地点提供高达 10 亿韩元（745,400 美元）的资金，具体金额取决于各个项目的计划和行政要求。

“让首尔夜晚变得特​​别的资源并不遥远；它们就隐藏在我们每天经过的社区公园、溪流和小巷中，”首尔经济事务办公室主任金贤宇说道。

“我们将发掘首尔各处的隐秘景点，让居民们惊叹‘我以前从未想过我家附近竟然有如此美丽的夜景’，并确保人们在夜间前来游览和停留，从而带动当地经济的发展。”

本文由生成式人工智能协助发布，并由《韩国时报》编辑。