[Anchor]

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has unveiled plans to revitalize the night economy, allowing residents and visitors to enjoy Seoul's culture, sports, tourism, and shopping late into the night. Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced a goal to generate an additional 5 trillion won in nighttime consumption and attract 30 million foreign tourists.

Reporter Yun Nara brings us this week's news from Seoul.

[Reporter]

People immerse themselves in a festival filled with music and food in the middle of the night.

Outdoor reading and yoga programs are also held.

People can also enjoy camping while riding the Hangang Bus on the Han River.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is launching the Seoul-Style Night Economy, which connects cultural and sports activities, tourism, and nighttime alley commercial districts across Seoul from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following day.

[Oh Se-hoon / Mayor of Seoul: We will enrich citizens' evenings and connect that vitality into opportunities for neighborhood and local economies.]

To achieve this, Namsan, Gwanghwamun, the Han River, and DDP will be fostered as four major nighttime landmarks, and Firefly Buses will operate to connect nighttime attractions with subway stations.

In addition, about 260 sports facilities will operate until midnight so people can work out after get-off work, and the Seoul Moonlight Street Markets centered around alley commercial districts will be expanded to 25 locations by 2028.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government stated that through these initiatives, it aims to generate an additional 5 trillion won in annual nighttime consumption, attract 30 million foreign tourists, and achieve a nighttime sales proportion of over 50% for small business owners five years from now.

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The Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided to introduce the shaded walking right as a basic principle of urban policy so that people can walk comfortably despite heatwaves.

Analyzing about 4,000 kilometers of sidewalks, the Seoul Metropolitan Government found that more than half of the sections are exposed to sunlight for more than 4 hours a day, and less than 20% have sufficient shade. It announced that it will ensure a certain level of continuous shade along sidewalks.

To this end, natural shade will be secured first by planting trees, and where tree planting is difficult, awnings, canopies, or shelters will be installed.

[Oh Se-hoon / Mayor of Seoul: We will create a city where people do not have to wander around searching for shade to avoid the sun, and a Seoul where people can walk with peace of mind even in midsummer.]

The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to institutionalize walking shade in urban planning and redevelopment projects so that these measures do not end as a one-time effort.

(Video reporting: Joo Bum, Kim Heung-ki | Video editing: Yoon Tae-ho)