AREX: Seoullo 7017 - Sky Garden and Shoes Tree

Seoullo 7017 was opened on 20th May (Saturday). The elevated highway known as Seoul Station overpass has turned into a Sky Garden for pedestrians. Since December 2015, vehicles were prohibited on the highway for construction and repairing work to proceed. On 20th May 2017, it came back as a Sky Garden.

Let's find out what is the meaning of "7017". The meaning behind "7017" is that "the Seoul Station overpass that was built in year 1970 is reborn in year 2017 with 17 pathways". There are 17 pedestrian walkways with 17 entrances and exits to the Seoul Station Sky Garden. It is connected to subways, bus transit centers and markets, which allows people to come or go to other cities and regions. Moreover, it is also connected to Airport Railroad (A'REX) Seoul Station City Airport Terminal!

If you look at the picture, the Sky Garden is divided into three parts. If you walk down from the path on the right side, and cross the crosswalk to the left, walk about 5 mins and you will arrive at the entrance of Airport Railroad (A'REX) Seoul Station City Airport Terminal. Many types of trees have been planted in Seoullo 7017. Besides that, there are also cute cafes, trampoline playground, fountain, skywalk, etc. As it says in the name "Sky Garden", the trees planted in this place matches with nature in the city center.

In addition, there is a huge worn-out shoes sculpture in the square in front of Seoul Station. This sculpture (known as "Shoes Trees") is made of 30,000 pairs of worn-out shoes and you will see it when you walk on the Sky Garden. They wished that Seoullo 7017 would be the place to gather the citizens to walk and let them realize the preciousness of urban regeneration and environment. If you take a closer look, every shoe is planted with a plant that makes you ponder about many things when you look at it.

As we have taken the walk to Seoullo 7017 Seoul Station Sky Garden, the most convenient thing we found is the Airport Railroad (A'REX) train. If you get out from Seoul Station and walk towards the Seoul Square (towards Bus transit center), you will see Shoes Tree whereas Sky Garden is located in between them. However, if you get out from Airport Railroad (A'REX) Seoul Station City Airport Terminal (Exit 15), you can take a circular route from beginning to the end of Sky Garden, and lastly, visit the Shoes Tree.

Finally, there are some things that you should take note when you visit Sky Garden. As it is located above the frequently operating train railroad, do not throw rubbish outside the safety fence. Especially, the railroad that train passes by is installed in extra high voltage electric train line, thus you have to be very cautious.