Key takeaways
May 16 Plaza — named for South Korea's May 16, 1961 military coup — broke ground in February 1971 and was completed that September; it was designed to preserve the old runway's usability for military purposes in an emergency. Fact It was later renamed Yeouido Plaza, but faced growing criticism over its unattractive expanse of asphalt and its legacy as a relic of military-era rule, having been used for regime-legitimizing rallies and military parades. Fact A park-conversion project began in 1997, and Yeouido Park opened in January 1999. Fact
What to look for on site
- The park's four zones: the Natural Ecology Forest, the Cultural Plaza, the Lawn Plaza, and the Korean Traditional Forest
- Green space now covering what was once dark asphalt
- Reference materials comparing the site's plaza era to its park era
Original, site-only, restored, or recreated?
- Site only: the location of the old runway and May 16 Plaza — the asphalt was removed and replaced with newly created green space. Fact
- Recreation: themed spaces like the Korean Traditional Forest — these aren't original features, but new additions created during the park's development.