Gwanak-gu's Byeolbit Stream selected for Seoul nighttime landmark program

Gwanak-gu announced Wednesday that Byeolbit Stream has been selected as a final recipient in the Seoul Metropolitan Government's "Seoul Starlight Landmark" development project competition.

The site was praised for its accessibility — a five-minute walk from Sillim Station — a floating population of up to 100,000 people, and its rich cultural and leisure infrastructure. With the selection, the district will receive up to 1 billion won ($746,000) in city funding.

The district plans to carry out the project in stages through next year, focusing on three core strategies along the stretch of Byeolbit Stream between Sillim Bridge and Bongnim Bridge: building a nighttime brand identity for the stream, expanding waterside leisure content, and developing the area into a destination linked to the local commercial district.

The district will build nighttime landmark infrastructure including a "Starlight Fish" media art installation and a "Starlight Busking Zone," along with improvements to the waterside terrace. It also plans to extend visitor stays and boost the local economy by connecting the site to nearby traditional markets and alley commercial districts.

The Starlight Fish media art installation will feature seasonal video content alongside participatory elements where residents can submit wishes and messages of encouragement, offering new attractions throughout the year. A Starlight Busking Zone equipped with a small stage, lighting and sound facilities will also be created.

In addition, seasonal gardens — hydrangeas in spring and chrysanthemums in autumn — will be planted, and the waterside terrace will receive upgraded flower beds and landscape lighting. Existing festivals, including the Sinwon Market moonlit outdoor bar, the Seowon-dong shopping street sundae festival and the Sillim Starlight Street night market, will be tied into the project, with discount coupons and cashback events offered to customers.

Gwanak-gu District Mayor Park Jun-hee said the selection marks a meaningful turning point for Byeolbit Stream to grow from a neighborhood rest space into a leading nighttime destination in southwestern Seoul. "We will continue to draw on our outstanding locational strengths and rich cultural and commercial resources to bring vibrant culture, art and local commerce to this beautiful waterside landscape — and to make Byeolbit Stream a place everyone wants to walk through and linger in," Park said.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Tuesday that it had selected 10 sites as "2026 Seoul Starlight Landmarks," including Byeolbit Stream along with Heukseok Waterfront Path in Dongjak-gu and Baramsan at Changcheon Neighborhood Park in Seodaemun-gu. A total of 27 projects from 21 autonomous districts were submitted for consideration. The city reviewed site suitability and growth potential, and conducted on-site evaluations assessing safety, accessibility, convenience and the potential for linkage with surrounding commercial areas.