Noeul Park in Seoul’s World Cup Park complex / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
World Cup Park, a sprawling green space built atop a former municipal landfill, is undergoing a major redesign to reinforce its position as a primary retreat for the capital city’s northwestern districts.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that the sweeping project will add new forested paths, linear gardens and enhanced observation points to better connect the park's distinct ecological zones.
The site, known historically as Nanjido, served as the city's primary waste dump from 1978 to 1993 before undergoing a massive environmental stabilization and restoration effort. Today, it is split into specialized sectors, including Noeul Park, celebrated for its sunset views over the Han River, and Haneul Park, famous for its elevated meadows of silver grass.
A central component of the new initiative is a 1-kilometer extension of the park's redwood paths. Opening Friday, the new section completes a 2.3-kilometer continuous promenade known as the World Cup Park Metasequoia Road. City planners have installed wooden deck entryways and rest areas along the trail to accommodate walkers throughout the seasons. This path links directly to a recently completed "Z-shaped" southern staircase, designed to ease crowd congestion during peak autumn festivals by smoothing pedestrian flow from the nearby Nanji Han River Park up to the ridges.
