“Asian Review 051” ― Seoul part12
Concluding the Exploration
Thus, we have explored Seoul in a rush. The most impressive thing in this journey might be the fact that large-scale projects such as Seoul Plaza, Cheonggyecheon Stream Restoration Project, Seoul Road 7017, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, etc. are realized in a relatively short time. I have no idea about the detailed background, but if large-scale urban remodeling projects are implemented under the order of every Mayors at that time smoothly as such, this might represent one characteristic of Korean nation and people.
In Japan, it is not uncommon for urban redevelopment projects, even without such remodeling of infrastructure, to take 10 or 20 years. For instance, the reforming project of the elevated Shuto Expressway covering the top of Nihombashi Bridge, making it into underground tunnel and restore sunlight to Nihombashi river, will finally come to the implementation phase after 20 years from the augment in 2002. We would be able to learn much from the Cheonggyecheon Stream Restoration Project.
Incidentally, there is one thing that I had felt curiously when I was walking around Myeongdong. People seemingly look the same as people walking in Shibuya, but it seemed less likely that I hear them laughing, or see them smiling. Is it because there is a sense of obstruction in Korea? I heard that Korea, having small domestic market, has achieved economic development with export industry as its engine, and is actively developing human resources who are going overseas, but aren’t they taking a strategy to increase the number of inbound tourists similar to Japan?
The last day of our 5 days trip had come. When I looked at Seoul Square from a hotel room without particular intention, I was surprised to see the plaza was completely filled with a huge number of people so that I could not see the ground. I could not make out what was happening, but soon I reminded that it was the 1st of May, the Labor Day. The labor movement has been heated up considerably under the Moon Jae-in regime, and this is also one aspect of the present Korea.
Looking at the case of urban development in Seoul, I felt one more thing that they are making urban spaces and architectural spaces with a relatively rough manner. From our eyes which are used to look at the latest urban development cases in Japan, I cannot help feeling that their construction is racking detailed consideration including construction accuracy. On the contrary, I was able to recognize the wonderfulness of the quality of urban space and architectural space in Japan again. This kind of things might be one of the questions which are related to how mature each citizen’s consciousness is.
Although Korea has many similarities to Japan, Japanese people sometimes call Korea the “close but far country”. Recently, the Moon Jae-in regime is keeping the anti-Japanese stance, and the Japan-Korea relationship is said to be the worst situation after the war. It has been adversely affecting the economy of both countries and the private sector’s relationships as well. In this way, “the close but far country” might become a “really far country”. In a global society, paying close attention to the world, I hope that both Japan and Korea will be able to properly establish mature relationships with each other. (Seoul series end)
