The Area Once Managed by the National Intelligence Service Opens to Citizens... Gangdong-gu to Create 4.9km 'Hangang Greenway' Along the Han River

To Be Completed by 2030
Ecological Observation Trail and Green Bridge to Be Built

On September 16, Gangdong-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Lee Soohee) announced plans to promote the "Gangdong Hangang Greenway Development Project," which will transform a 4.9-kilometer stretch along the Han River—from Amsa Chorok-gil to Garaeyeoul Village—into a green leisure space where people can walk, relax, and experience nature.

Godeok Mountain Observatory and Green Bridge example. Provided by Gangdong-gu.

From this year until 2030, the district government will invest a total of 19.9 billion won (17.9 billion won from the city budget and 2 billion won from the district’s budget) to sequentially implement 12 detailed projects across four zones. An additional budget of 12 billion won will be allocated separately for the Goduk Mountain Observatory and the 120-meter-long "Green Bridge" pedestrian bridge, which will reconnect Goduk Mountain, currently separated by Olympic-daero, to the riverfront of the Han River.

The Gangdong stretch of the Han River has been difficult for residents to access, even though it is close by, due to overlapping restrictions such as designation as a water source protection zone, a development-restricted area, a military protection zone, and an ecological landscape conservation area, as well as physical disconnections caused by Olympic-daero, the Amsa Water Intake Plant, and Goduk Mountain. The district has designed the project to protect the area’s natural, historical, and ecological resources—which have been preserved because of these regulations—while reconnecting the fragmented spaces.

The project area will be divided into Amsa Chorok Ieum-gil (A), Hangang Nuri-gil (B), Goduk Ecological Nubeam-gil (C), and Yeoulmaru Resting Trail (D). The core is section B, Hangang Nuri-gil. Here, approximately 1.45 kilometers of ecological observation trails will be created from the Amsa Water Intake Plant to the Goduk Mountain area, allowing visitors to closely experience the Han River’s natural environment as they walk. The disconnected Goduk Mountain and the Han Riverfront, separated by Olympic-daero, will be linked by the Green Bridge, which will provide both greenery and walking spaces atop the structure. Goduk Mountain will also feature an observatory offering panoramic views of the Han River and its surroundings. Integration with the existing Seoul Dullegil Trail Course 6 will strengthen a broader walking network.

As the ecological observation trails pass by the Amsa Arisu Water Purification Center, a national security facility, the district has held preliminary consultations with relevant agencies, such as the National Intelligence Service. Security measures including a closed-type trail and closed-circuit (CC) TV surveillance will be incorporated into the final construction plans.

Section A, Amsa Chorok Ieum-gil, will connect Amsa History Park, Amsa Chorok-gil, and Amsa Ecological Park, and will feature a community garden and historical/ecological-themed walking paths. Section C, Goduk Ecological Nubeam-gil, will link together the Goduk-Gangil Public Housing District, Godukcheon Stream, and Goduk Riverside Ecological Park, while providing a rest area for cyclists. Section D, Yeoulmaru Resting Trail, will develop an ecological parking lot and new amenities in the Garaeyeoul Village area, and will establish the "Gangdong Hangang Food Alley" in partnership with local restaurants.

District Mayor Lee Soohee stated, "The Gangdong Hangang Greenway is a project that will transform the Han River from something residents simply gaze at into a place they can actively walk, experience nature, and linger, by linking various stretches of the riverbank. We will ensure the seamless creation of this green leisure corridor—from Amsa Chorok-gil to Garaeyeoul Village—uniting Gangdong’s history, nature, and the Han River as one."

Han River Greenway Comprehensive Plan. Provided by Gangdong District.

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