Seoul Plaza

Seoul Plaza is a central plaza located in front of Seoul City Hall at Taepyeongno, Jung-gu in Seoul, South Korea. It was reopened on 1 May 2004, by Seoul Metropolitan Government, with the purpose of providing the public an open space. It is part of the City's plans for environmentally friendly renovation projects such as the Cheonggye Stream and Gwanghwamun Plaza.[2]

Seoul Plaza
Public square
Korean transcriptions
Hangul
서울광장
Hanja
서울廣場
Revised RomanizationSeoul gwangjang
McCune–ReischauerSŏul kwangjang
View of Seoul Plaza
Featuresfountain, ice rink[1]
Opening dateMay 1, 2004
Area3,995 pyeong (1.321 ha)[1]
Surfacegrass
OwnerSeoul Metropolitan Government
LocationTaepyeongno, Jung-gu
Seoul, South Korea
Coordinates: 37°33′56″N 126°58′41″E
Not to be confused with The Plaza Hotel Seoul.

Description

The site was originally a traffic square with a 40-year-old fountain that was demolished and the nearby space was renovated.[1] Seoul Plaza is elliptical in shape, covering a 3,995 pyeong in total and a 1,904 pyeong for grass area. An underground water tank was installed along with 48 lighting around the grass square.[3] The underground tank stores rain water for use in the sprinklers on the lawn.[1]

The plaza has been the site of protests against US beef imports in South Korea,[4][5] and Korea Queer Culture Festival. The plaza was also the Starting Line of The Amazing Race Australia 4.[6]

Administration

As of 1 June 2011, the Plaza along with Gwanghwamun Plaza are designated as smoke-free zones by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Smokers are fined ₩100,000 in violation.[7][8]

Every winter since 2004, the Plaza has hosted an open air ice-rink from mid-December to February the following year,[9] following which are replaced with green lawn and the fountain operational again.[10]

See also

References
  1. "서울광장 Seoul Plaza" (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 2013-01-22. Retrieved 2008-05-07.
  2. Hoh, Kui-Seek (3 August 2009). "The road less travelled, by cars". Joongang Daily. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  3. "Seoul Plaza". Life in Korea. Retrieved 2008-05-07.
  4. Kim, Rahn (15 June 2008). "Seoul Plaza Suffering Under Mass Rallies". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2012-02-03.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  5. "Protests Against U.S. Beef Imports Transforms into a Huge Festival". The Hankyoreh. Jun 7, 2008. Retrieved 2012-02-03.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  6. "The Amazing Race Interactive Map". 10play. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  7. Lee, Ji-yoon (3 June 2011). "Smoking ban at Seoul squares effective". Korea Herald. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  8. "Smokers in Seoul Plazas Face Steep Fines". Chosun Ilbo. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  9. "Seoul Plaza Skating Rink to Open Friday". Chosun Ilbo. 14 December 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  10. "Seoul Plaza Gets Verdant Makeover". Chosun Ilbo. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2013.


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