Seoul to build its own Champs-Elysees

By 2004 at the earliest, Korea will greatly improve the environment of Sejong Road for pedestrians, turning into a street like the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

Seoul city officials announced August 23 that they would pursue a project starting next year to remake the street with a vista of Mount Bukhan and other natural surroundings.

The project calls for expanding the sidewalk from Korea Telecom to Kyobo Book Store and from Sejong Cultural Center to the Hyundai Fire & Marine building to 18 meters from the current 5 meters as the first-phase work by the end of 2001.

Also, crosswalks will be created between the combined government office building and the Gwanghwamun open space and from open space to Gwanghwamun so that people can cross the street. This will link Gyeongbok Palace with Gahoe-dong and Insadong, and turn the southern underpass of Sejong Road into a pedestrian walk.