Yongsan National Urban Park Master Plan

Seoul is the heart of South Korea and Asia's most international city, where the trajectory toward the future and respect for the past is reflected in the unique identity of the city. The future site of Yongsan National Urban Park is a hidden treasure at the center of Seoul, invisible from its citizens for nearly a century. The design for the park's master plan is inspired by the symbolic importance of Taebaek San. These majestic, distant peaks are the symbolic and ecological emblems of South Korea. Depicted historically in poetry and painting, these hills and mountains are central to Korea's strong cultural and ecological identity.

The design shapes one continuous meandering line, an ecological spine, that descends from Namsam Mountain and wanders through the park to frame distinct and memorable "Parks within the Park," reconnecting existing neighborhoods and extending across the Han River. This wandering line, rich with woodland walks and outlooks, combines architecture and landscape to enhance the topography of the site, link multiple programs, and offer dynamic views of the city and mountains beyond.

From the mountains to the river, the park to the city, and the city to the ecological centerpiece of Seoul's new National Park, our design for Yongsan Park weaves tapestries of prior histories and new futures into a place where the natural and human-made identities, cultivation, and civilization are free to wander and overlap—inviting both the citizens of Seoul and visitors around the world to create their own tapestry of new experiences.