The 6 Billion Won 'Seoullo 7017' Turns from a Night View Hotspot into a 'Cockroach Nest'

[Financial News] An unexpected crack has appeared in South Korea's tourism image, which has been praised by foreign visitors as safe and clean. At Seoullo 7017, one of Seoul's signature night-view spots and a symbol of urban regeneration, swarms of cockroaches have recently appeared, startling pedestrians and tourists who came for a walk.

Around 9 p.m. on the 14th, sudden screams broke out among about 50 citizens and foreign visitors enjoying a nighttime stroll. One person sat down on a bench next to a flower bed, then jumped up shouting, "Ah!" Several cockroaches had crawled out from cracks in the cement and from around the bench. The once peaceful walkway quickly turned chaotic, and frightened children clung to their parents in fear.
This was not a one-time incident. According to on-site staff and residents, cockroaches that had been hiding in the large planters known as Tripot and in cement cracks crawl out in groups around the benches and walkways after sunset or after rain.
The controversy has since spread rapidly after a foreign visitor posted a video online titled "Things you can see while walking around Seoul at night," showing dozens of cockroaches crawling around the flower beds and benches. Internet users who saw the video have criticized the hygiene management of a major tourist attraction visited by millions each year, saying the situation is serious.

Seoullo 7017 was created in 2017, during the tenure of former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, when about 60 billion won was invested to transform the Seoul Station Overpass, built in 1970, into an elevated pedestrian park in the heart of the city. It now attracts more than 6 million visitors a year, and about 1.6 billion won is spent annually on maintenance and management. However, criticism over poor upkeep of the landscaping and walking environment has continued since it opened. Seoul Metropolitan Government has carried out pest control work against plant mites, but it appears that no separate, strong disinfection measures were taken against cockroaches.
Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Seoul Metropolitan Government has moved quickly with follow-up measures. On the 16th, the city said it would bring in a professional pest control company to conduct a detailed inspection across Seoullo 7017. After identifying the root causes, including the exact habitats and movement routes of the cockroaches, the city plans to launch a large-scale extermination effort in cooperation with the Jung-gu Public Health Center.
Meanwhile, some have continued to argue that Seoullo 7017 should be demolished, citing the chronic difficulty of maintaining it.
In response, Seoul Metropolitan Government has said it is aiming not for immediate demolition, but for a redesign as an "open resting space" linked with nearby base facilities such as History and Culture Plaza to create a greater sense of openness.
moon@fnnews.com Moon Young-jin Reporter