Located in South Korea, Sejong stands out as a fascinating city. Having been established as a planned city in 2012, its primary purpose was to take away some of the pressure off Seoul and offer the opportunity to host over a million inhabitants. Nevertheless, the population is quite far from this goal, as approximately three hundred fifty thousand people should now be living there. Thus, there arises another thought – is it failed city or normal developing city?
As for me, the very first impression is one of remarkable silence. Even during a working day, there was hardly any traffic on the roads and some of the parts of the city appeared to be almost empty. Nevertheless, the city was also very clean, modern, spacious, and surrounded by greenery.
Exploring Sejong By Bus
Since Sejong lacks a developed subway network, the buses are the main means of transportation. Surprisingly, the process was very easy due to the use of a transport card that can be recharged anytime. The bus arrived at the stop just a few minutes later and there are announcements in both Korean and English.
A Contemporary City Abounding in Green Areas
One of the most distinguishable aspects of Sejong is the integration of nature with advanced architectural structures. Parks, walking trails, canals, bicycle lanes, and sports grounds are part of residential areas.
One can see a greater city landscape from the 42-meter observation deck. Apart from several buildings rising in the urban landscape, large green areas can also be seen there. All in all, it appears that lots of efforts have been taken to form a comfortable living environment rather than create one more densely populated city.
Sejong also provides several conveniences for people, including sunshades near traffic lights and various bicycle and e-scooter systems. A curious thing about this city is that you can find a tiny 7-Eleven shop, which has no staff, and customers can go in there with the help of their credit cards and make purchases by themselves.
Trying Out Korean Fast Food and Having My Hair Cut
For lunch, I stopped by Lotteria, one of the largest fast-food chains in Korea and had a Bulgogi Burger along with Shake Shake Chicken and mango-flavored drink. The burger reminded me of McDonald’s, but it had less sauce and a larger quantity of fresh vegetables.
Later, I unexpectedly stumbled upon a neighborhood barber shop and decided to get my hair done there. The barber shop served us quickly and at reasonable prices, and they also washed and styled our hair, which made this experience something to remember.
Sejong Lake Park at Sunset
The day ended at Sejong Lake Park, one of the best recreation areas in the city. The lake, bridges, pathways, mountains around and the modern buildings create a feeling of tranquillity.
There were also small shops selling drinks and snacks, which added to the relaxation. Compared to Seoul, Sejong is much calmer and quieter with less traffic and fewer people as well as no street food stalls.
Sejong: A City Worth Living in?
Currently, the tourist attractions that Sejong offers are not very appealing as there are no historical areas and temples there. The city also lacks enough places that offer accommodation compared to Seoul.
However, as a living area, Sejong is a lot better. It has a very modern infrastructure, is beautifully green and pleasant, and gives a chance to enjoy walks in calm surroundings. A normal day spent there can include commuting by public means of transport, a dinner in the restaurant, doing shopping, getting a hair-cut, playing sports, and walking in the park.
The future of Sejong as the metropolitan area it was intended to be is still unknown. Although its population is still low, the city is well equipped in terms of the infrastructure, and there is enough land for development.
