Gangnam Lights a 3-Kilometer Night Walk Between a Royal Tomb and a Buddhist Temple

A new evening walking route now links Seonjeongneung Station and Bongeunsa Station in southern Seoul, where Gangnam District has strung 107 smart LED landscape lights and 59 image projectors along a 3-kilometer corridor. The route, officially named the Seonjeongneung-Bongeunsa Historical and Cultural Street of Light, began operating Sept. 14 and runs along both sides of a 1.5-kilometer one-way stretch of Bongeunsa-ro, according to The Korea Times.

Exit toward Seonjeongneung Station puts walkers at the edge of Seonjeongneung itself, a UNESCO World Heritage site holding the tombs of Joseon King Seongjong, his consort Queen Jeonghyeon, and King Jungjong. The district built its lighting design around that lineage. According to Money Today, the LED landscape lights carry a custom Seonjeongneung symbol mark that connects the three royal tombs with organic lines, pairing the historical layout with the visual language of a modern transit corridor.

Farther along Bongeunsa-ro, the 59 image projectors throw graphic icons drawn from Seonjeongneung and symbol imagery tied to Bongeunsa directly onto the pavement. Money Today describes the intent plainly: walkers experience the two heritage sites as one continuous flow of light rather than as separate stops on a map. Bongeunsa itself, a centuries-old Buddhist temple that once served as a royal mortuary temple tied to the Joseon tombs, sits near the route's opposite end, close to Bongeunsa Station.

Gangnam District Mayor Kim Hyun-ki framed the corridor as more than decoration. Speaking to Dailian, he said he hopes the street becomes a nighttime walking space residents and visitors can use safely, and a piece of urban scenery that shows off Gangnam's historical identity, while also drawing overnight tourism that keeps visitors in the area longer and gives nearby shops a lift.

City officials at Sijung Ilbo note the broader ambition: using Gangnam's mix of history, shopping, business and leisure to widen the sightseeing routes of domestic and foreign visitors alike and extend their time in the neighborhood. The Korea Times reports the district plans to extend the concept starting in 2027, linking the corridor toward the Coex complex and gradually upgrading sidewalks, green space and visitor amenities along the way.