Oh Sehoon: "Seoul-Style Night Economy to Generate 5 Trillion Won in Additional Consumption, Revitalize Local Businesses"

Mayor Oh Unveils Seoul-Style Night Economy Strategy

Sports Facilities Open Until Midnight; Expanded Cultural and Leisure Experiences

DDP, Namsan, Gwanghwamun, and the Han River Developed as Nighttime Landmarks

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is set to launch its 'Seoul-Style Night Economy' initiative, enabling residents and tourists to safely enjoy tourism, culture, sports, and leisure activities after dark. Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), Namsan, Gwanghwamun, and the Hangang River will be developed as four major night landmarks. The city aims to generate an additional 5 trillion won in nighttime consumption and attract 30 million foreign tourists by 2030.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon

Oh Seohun, Mayor of Seoul, announced the Seoul-Style Night Economy strategy at Seoul City Hall on the morning of August 20, stating, “We will extend citizens’ daily lives into the late hours and expand nighttime content to boost visitation and duration of stay, driving consumption toward local businesses.” He emphasized that this is a comprehensive urban strategy, not just a policy to extend the late-night business hours of shops or restaurants.

The goal is to offer citizens a vibrant evening filled with opportunities for health, culture, and leisure, and to create more chances for tourists to enjoy Seoul for longer periods, leading to increased sales for small businesses.

Sports Facilities Open Until Midnight... Utilizing Waterfronts and Parks

To allow citizens to exercise after work, 269 sports facilities in city offices, districts, schools, and parks will be operated until up to midnight, depending on circumstances. Lighting and user environments will be improved at 259 sports facilities along the Hangang River and its tributaries to enable use late at night. Running and nighttime cycling programs by the Hangang River will be expanded, and challenges will be launched to reward those who certify visits to night attractions through “Wrist Doctor 9988.”

The number of “Seoul Mulbit Naru” riverfront spaces, such as Hongjecheon and Anyangcheon, will be expanded from 19 currently to 40 by 2030, and each of the 25 districts will develop unique nighttime attractions. Urban parks like Seoul Forest and Maehyeon Citizen’s Forest will feature garden theaters and nighttime programs, transforming them into healing spaces.

Currently, eight cultural facilities, including city-run museums and art galleries, open for one night per week, will gradually expand their hours to five nights per week, closing at 9 p.m. starting next month. Through the 'Seoul Museum Night,' facilities will offer unique programs such as family history tours and nighttime exhibition talks with curators. Urban venues like the outdoor yard of the Seoul Museum of Craft Art, Sejong Center rooftop and backyard, and Daehakro will also be utilized as cultural spaces.

K-hiking and temple meditation programs will offer unique night experiences for both citizens and tourists to enjoy the cityscape. “Seoul Moonlight Night Market,” which transforms regional food and local small businesses into nighttime content, will begin at 5 locations this year and expand to 25 by 2028.

Four Major Landmarks Including DDP... Launch of Firefly Night Bus

Seoul will focus on developing DDP, Namsan, Gwanghwamun, and the Hangang River as four major night landmarks. The strategy is to increase visitors’ length of stay through tailored content, thereby extending energy and vitality to surrounding commercial areas. A laser art show will be piloted at DDP starting next month, and from October, Namsan’s Baekbeom Square tent village will host outdoor movies and busking performances. Gwanghwamun will become a night space combining history and media art, while the Hangang River will be transformed into an attractive venue through nighttime camping and various festivals.

Mayor Oh stated, "The vitality sparked at the four major landmarks will spread to adjacent commercial and residential areas. While we boldly open up the city, we will pay even greater attention to safety, order, and co-prosperity with residents."

From October, in addition to current late-night buses (N Bus), the city will introduce “Firefly Night Buses” connecting major nighttime attractions with subway stations. The Firefly Night Bus will focus on improving mobility between key night attractions and hubs. After operations begin, Seoul will analyze demand and congestion levels to increase bus frequency on high-demand routes and consider expanding routes in connection with next year’s city bus reorganization.

Next month, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will establish the “Seoul Night Economy Committee” to provide advice on basic plans, co-existence special zones, and regulatory improvements. The city also plans to enact the “Basic Ordinance on Night Economy Revitalization,” targeting implementation in January next year. Through these measures, Seoul aims to create an additional 5 trillion won in annual nighttime spending within five years, attract 30 million foreign tourists, and generate over 50% of all small business sales during nighttime hours.

Mayor Oh commented, “The Seoul-Style Night Economy is a policy that adjusts the rhythm of the city to citizens’ lives, allowing them to exercise, enjoy culture, and spend more prosperous time with their families after work. The vitality that begins with citizens’ rich evenings will be directly connected to new opportunities in tourism and local businesses.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.