Seoulites listen to a tour guide during the 2025 Seocho-Han River Art Tour at the Seoul Express Bus Terminal area. Courtesy of Seoul Seocho District Office
For most travelers navigating southern Seoul, the massive Express Bus Terminal and the shimmering, floating islands of Some Sevit are places to pass through — stops on a commute rather than destinations for quiet contemplation. But starting this week, the surrounding riverfront neighborhood is recasting its concrete underpasses and urban walkways as a vibrant canvas for fine art.
Beginning Thursday, Seocho District will launch the Seocho-Han River Art Tour, a summer initiative pairing English-guided public art walks with hands-on traditional craft workshops. Running eight times through Aug. 30, the project aims to transform the everyday cityscape into an accessible, open-air gallery for international tourists and local residents alike.
Led by bilingual docents with credentials from premier institutions like the Seoul Arts Center, the 90-minute evening walking tours offer deep dives into open-air installations along the district's special tourism zone. Highlights include the "Wonder Street" public sculpture exhibition — held in partnership with confectioner Crown-Haetae's ongoing sculpture project — alongside local landmarks like the Picasso Mural and the "24 Hours of Seoul" wall painting. Docents unpack the creative background, structural nuances and artistic significance behind each piece, turning a routine stroll into an engaging masterclass in contemporary urban aesthetics.
