A rendering shows a planned green bridge connecting Mount Godeok to an observation deck across Olympic-daero.GANGDONG-GU
A new 4.9-kilometer (3-mile) ecological and pedestrian trail will be built along the Han River in Gangdong District, eastern Seoul.
The new trail is expected to give residents of nearby Godeok-dong and Gangil-dong a more direct route to the river, as Olympic-daero, an eight-lane highway that separates residential areas from the Han River, and the Amsa Arisu Water Purification Center have limited access to the area.
A total of 19.9 billion won ($14.4 million) will be spent to build the so-called Gangdong Han River greenway from September through 2030. The district will cover 2 billion won, while the Seoul Metropolitan Government will contribute the remaining 17.9 billion won.
A map shows the planned 4.9-kilometer (3-mile) Gangdong Han River greenway along the Han River in eastern Seoul.GANGDONG-GU
The upcoming riverside trail will stretch from the Amsa Green Road in Amsa-dong to Garaeyeoul Village in Gangil-dong.
Overlapping environmental, security and land-use restrictions have kept the area largely undeveloped, and in doing so have safeguarded its ecosystem. Otters and other protected or endangered species have been sighted there. Yet the same rules that shelter this wildlife also limit access for residents.
To improve public access to the Han River, the district will carry out 12 projects across four sections in phases.
One of the main projects is the so-called Han River Nuri Trail, which will connect the Amsa water facility with the Mount Godeok area. The trail will include a mountaintop observation deck and a green bridge with a dedicated wildlife passage. It will connect to the Seoul Trail, a 156.5-kilometer walking route that circles the outskirts of the capital.
From 2027 to 2029, the district will also build a 1.45-kilometer ecological observation trail between the Amsa water facility and Mount Godeok. It will include a 420-meter (0.26-mile) pedestrian path in front of the water facility, a 450-meter natural shoreline path along the mountain and a 580-meter walking trail on the mountain. Bird-watching and guided ecology programs will turn the area into a hands-on learning space for visitors.
A 120-meter green bridge with vegetation and pedestrian paths will be built between Mount Godeok and the Han River. Part of the bridge will be reserved for wildlife such as water deer, while the rest will be open to pedestrians. Residents of Godeok-dong, an area with several large apartment complexes, will be able to cross Olympic-daero on foot via the bridge and reach the Han River more easily.
Amsa-dong Neolithic Site in Gangdong District in eastern SeoulJOONGANG ILBO
The district will also build two additional trails to improve access to the Han River. The so-called Amsa Green Link Trail will connect the Amsa-dong Neolithic Site, the Amsa Green Trail and the Amsa Ecological Park. The so-called Godeok Ecological Trail will provide a route to the river from the Godeok-Gangil residential area and Godeok Stream. The city will add cyclist rest areas and upgrade entrances to the ecological park.
Other plans include equipping new rest areas with parking and other amenities, as well as a street lined with restaurants.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government began moving forward with the project in 2023 after launching a feasibility study. The project, however, faced a major obstacle because the Amsa Arisu Water Purification Center, a national security facility, sits in the middle of the planned route.
Gangdong District chief Lee Soo-hee explains the Han River greenway project at the planned site of an observation deck on Mount Godeok in Gangdong District, eastern Seoul in an undated photo.GANGDONG-GU
The district moved the project forward after consulting the National Intelligence Service and other authorities. The plan calls for enclosed pedestrian paths and a CCTV surveillance system to address security concerns.
“The Gangdong Han River greenway will connect different parts of the waterfront so residents can walk directly along the Han River, experience nature and spend time there,” said Gangdong District chief Lee Soo-hee. “We will carry out the project without disruption and bring together Gangdong’s history, natural environment and the Han River.”
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
