Mapo-gu opens new 'World Cup Waterside Café'

A new waterside retreat where visitors can rest and take in the sight of cascading water has opened in Seongsan-dong, Mapo-gu, across from a decorative waterfall near Seongmi Bridge.

[The Herald Business=Park Jong-il, senior reporter] Mapo-gu completed the "World Cup Waterside Café" — a space designed for coffee and relaxation alongside the scenic waterfall — and held an inauguration ceremony at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The single-story café sits along the World Cup Stream walking trail in Seongsan-dong and covers a total floor area of 195.36 square meters.

Conceived as a "stay-and-linger waterside space" rather than a simple passageway, the facility invites visitors to pause and rest in a natural setting enhanced by the adjacent waterfall.

Inside, floor-to-ceiling glass walls allow unobstructed views of the waterfall and stream from anywhere in the café. Outside, a deck connects directly to the surrounding walking path, letting residents step in for a coffee whenever they please during a stroll along the waterway.

A separate rooftop terrace offers sweeping views of the stream and waterfall, adding to the site's waterside appeal.

In addition, Mapo-gu also installed stepping stones and stairs linking the waterfall on the opposite bank to the café, improving access between the two attractions.

Slopes on both sides of the stream have been planted with poppies, Chinese juniper, golden euonymus, Emerald Green arborvitae and other trees and shrubs to enhance the visual landscape.

The district plans to select a professional café operator, complete interior fit-out and facility checks, and begin full operations in June.

The decorative waterfall — 6.5 meters tall and 40 meters wide — was built to improve the stream environment and expand residents' access to the waterfront. It has been in operation since March and has drawn an enthusiastic response from the community. The combination of rushing water and nighttime lighting has made it a popular urban retreat, and it is already drawing visitors in connection with the nearby Seolleim-gil promenade, World Cup Stadium and Culture Tank.

With the waterside café now added to the mix, the stream corridor is expected to emerge as a premier waterfront destination where nature and leisure go hand in hand.

"The waterside café adds the pleasure of lingering to the joy of walking," a Mapo-gu official said. "We will continue to tend to the stream landscape and its surroundings going forward."