Neighborhood streams and forest trails to become Seoul's new nighttime destinations

Waterfront spaces, hilltop observation decks, streams and forest trails tucked away across Seoul are set to be transformed into new nighttime attractions.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to add landscape lighting and cultural content to the city's natural, historical and cultural assets to draw residents out after dark, while also linking the sites to nearby alley commercial districts to boost local spending. The initiative connects to the city's "nighttime economy revitalization" drive, one of the key policies of the current mayoral administration.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Saturday, the 10 sites selected as the "2026 Seoul Starlight Destinations" are the Heukseok Waterfront Trail in Dongjak-gu, Baramsan in Changcheon Neighborhood Park in Seodaemun-gu, the Metasequoia Trail along Yangjae Stream in Gangnam-gu, Byeolbitnaerin Stream in Gwanak-gu, the Baramswimter rest area along Seongbuk Stream in Seongbuk-gu, Hwarangdae Railway Park in Nowon-gu, the Yongmasan Skywalk in Jungnang-gu, Seokchon Lake in Songpa-gu, Baebongsan in Dongdaemun-gu and Jeongdong-gil in Jung-gu.

The city will provide up to 1 billion won ($745,000) in project funding per site, rolling out construction in sequence as administrative procedures are completed at each location. The exact level of support will be determined after reviewing each district's project plan and its progress through the relevant administrative steps.

A total of 27 project proposals from 21 districts were submitted for the competition. The city conducted document reviews and on-site evaluations before selecting the final 10 districts.

Rather than simply installing lighting fixtures, the city intends to connect the nighttime scenery at each site with cultural and leisure activities and nearby commercial districts, with the goal of keeping people in the area longer and encouraging spending after dark. Construction will begin at sites where conditions are ready, while those requiring reviews related to landscape lighting or cultural heritage will proceed after completing the relevant procedures.

At the Heukseok Waterfront Trail, media art installations and landscape lighting will be placed under the Olympic Expressway bridges, alongside a riverside rest area, a barrier-free walking path and a running track. The project will also tie in the nighttime view of Nodeul Island across the river and the nearby Heukri-dan-gil street and Heukseok Market. At Baramsan in Sinchon, an aging windmill and observation deck will be renovated into a scenic overlook for sunsets and city night views. The Metasequoia Trail along Yangjae Stream will receive nature-themed lighting and photo zones, with connections to the nearby Dogok-dong cafe strip.

Byeolbitnaerin Stream will gain light installations and a busking space, while Seongbuk Stream will be fitted with media glass panels and landscape lighting. Hwarangdae Railway Park will feature a lit pathway evoking the atmosphere of the old rail line, and Baebongsan will be developed into a nighttime hiking trail linking a forest library, a waterfall and a summit observation deck. The Yongmasan Skywalk will see enhanced landscape lighting and added rest and photo spaces, and Seokchon Lake will receive improvements to its walking environment and nighttime scenery. Along Jeongdong-gil, night lighting will be added to modern heritage buildings along an approximately 850-meter stretch from the Deoksugung Palace stone wall path, creating a historical and cultural exploration route.

Kim Hyun-woo, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's economy bureau, said the city would "uncover the hidden charms of the parks, streams and alleyways that residents pass by every day and turn them into spaces people want to visit and linger in at night."