A rendering of the new public rooftop observatory at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, scheduled to open by the end of 2026. Courtesy of the Seoul Metropolitan Government
Seoul will soon have a new, elevated vantage point where residents and visitors can take in the capital’s ancient imperial history and dramatic mountain skyline, completely free of charge.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that it has cleared the final architectural and administrative hurdles to transform the flat, underutilized roof of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts into a lush public garden and observation deck. Groundbreaking is scheduled for September, with plans to open the space to the public by the end of the year.
The Sejong Center, a grand concrete-and-granite complex, has long served as a prominent anchor of the city's cultural life. Yet, while audiences have packed its concert halls, public access to its expansive rooftop has remained restricted. City planners now view the roof as a crucial link to tie Gwanghwamun Square, the arts center and Gyeongbok Palace into a single, cohesive cultural corridor.
The project is part of a deliberate municipal campaign to carve out open-air vantage points for everyday citizens in the densely packed capital. City planners have increasingly sought to repurpose government and public assets to offer panoramic views without requiring expensive admission fees.
