Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog.net

Returning Streets to People in South Korea: The Political Dividend

11:21 AM EST on January 14, 2011

This weekend the new musical about Robert Moses, New York's 20th century "master builder," will debut in Lower Manhattan. No one built with the intensity of Moses, whose fixation on moving automobiles came to define his legacy and influence a whole generation of urban decision makers.

Now, it seems, the tide is turning. A few months ago, Esquire Magazine ran a story about New York City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Kahn, drawing a parallel between her impact and Moses's. But rather than building massive highway projects, Sadik-Kahn has been adding bike lanes and bus lanes and clearing cars from places like Times Square to create space for pedestrians.

false

Will there be a whole new generation of leaders committed to returning cities to people? Streetsblog Network member Walkable Dallas-Fort Worth looks abroad to the example of Lee Myung-Bak, who achieved national political prominence in South Korea by transforming the heart of his city:

It is amazing what can happen when you listen to the people. In one case, the former mayor of Seoul, South Korea made his career pretty much entirely by making his city more livable for its citizens. That's the kind of popularity that carries mayors into presidencies, as it did for Lee Myung-Bak, now the President of South Korea.

The two biggest legacies he left Seoul with were the Seoul Forest, a large urban park on land that was rendered rather useless by overbuilding of roads/highways, and the Cheonggyecheon, a stream-turned freeway, returned to public park and accessible water course...

Today, 90,000 pedestrians go to the new park in the center of Seoul, each day. 50 million have visited the new riverfront park in five years. It has become the center of Seoul, and by extension all of South Korea.

Elsewhere on the Network today: Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space reflects on the importance of Metropolitan Planning Organizations to transportation reform and wonders if metro D.C.'s position between two states will have a negative impact on its evolution. And The FABB blog comments on Alexandria, Virginia's wavering between a Complete Streets “policy” — which can be ignored — and a stronger ordinance.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Distracted Off-Duty Cop Jumped Curb and Killed Chicago Woman On Sidewalk

It's infuriating that a person who was entrusted to help keep the public safe was reckless enough to take her eyes off the road while driving to pick up a phone, with tragic consequences.

December 8, 2023

Friday’s Headlines Include Transit

An International Association of Public Transport study found that many countries are neglecting transit in their plans to combat climate change.

December 8, 2023

Calif. Using“Auxiliary Lane” Freeway Widening Loophole for Non-Aux Lane Projects

Beyond just using harmful loopholes legally, Metro and Caltrans deceptively bypass environmental regulations in order to keep on widening freeways.

December 8, 2023

Talking Headways Podcast: Sausage Making and the ADA

"It is fundamentally inappropriate to keep charging disabled people twice as much," our guest Ron Brooks says.

December 7, 2023

The Real Reason Assaults Against Transit Workers Are On The Rise

Hint: it's not just because service has been slashed.

December 7, 2023
See all posts