Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced the 'shade walking rights' initiative on August 19 at a press conference in City Hall, aimed at ensuring safe mobility for citizens during heatwaves. The city plans to conduct a pilot program from 2026 to 2027, with plans to expand the initiative citywide starting in 2028.
The shade walking rights concept involves planning and managing urban spaces to provide citizens with uninterrupted access to shade from the moment they leave their homes until they reach their destinations, such as subway stations, schools, markets, hospitals, and parks. The focus will be on the actual area, duration, and connectivity of shade experienced by citizens, rather than just the number of trees or shade structures.
An analysis of 60,729 sidewalks in Seoul, covering a total of 4,031 kilometers, revealed that the average shade coverage on pedestrian paths is 44.4%. Of this, building shade accounts for 29.2 percentage points, while tree shade contributes 15.2 percentage points. The average exposure to sunlight was recorded at 4 hours and 21 minutes, with 27.6% of sidewalks exposed to sunlight for more than 6 hours a day.
The city has also noted significant heat-related incidents during travel. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's heat illness emergency room surveillance system, 31.4% of the 815 heat illness cases reported in Seoul from 2023 to 2025 occurred on the streets.
To address this, the city will analyze sunlight exposure, pedestrian traffic, and the usage by vulnerable groups such as the elderly to prioritize areas in urgent need of shade. In locations where planting is feasible, large-canopy trees will be planted, while areas with narrow sidewalks or underground facilities will see the installation of canopies, awnings, seasonal shades, and small rest areas. These individual shade areas will be connected to shaded pathways leading to residential areas, subway stations, schools, markets, hospitals, and parks.
The city plans to incorporate shade walking principles into the Seoul Urban Basic Plan and living area plans, gradually applying them to district unit plans, maintenance projects, and public construction projects. A 'walking shade simulation' will be introduced to measure shade area, duration, and connectivity before and after the project. Pilot projects will be conducted in 10 living streets this year and next, with successful methods standardized for citywide implementation starting in 2028.
This declaration aligns with Seoul's urban policy, which views green spaces and urban parks as essential infrastructure for responding to heatwaves and climate crises. The day before, Mayor Oh emphasized the importance of preserving urban green spaces while opposing housing construction in Yongsan Park during a Cabinet meeting.
Mayor Oh stated, "While we have increased living area greenery through the garden city initiative, shade walking rights represent the next step in connecting this greenery from homes to destinations. We aim to make shade a fundamental service of the city that protects citizens' health and daily lives, rather than just a convenience available in select locations."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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