Kim Tae-su, chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council's Housing and Space Committee (People Power Party, Seongbuk-gu District 4), expressed the council's commitment to actively supporting the "Nodeul Global Art Island" project on Thursday.
Nodeul Island, which Kim endorsed, was originally created as an artificial island called "Jungji-do" in 1917 during the Japanese colonial period for the construction of Hangang Bridge foundations. Renamed "Nodeul Island" in 1987, the site has wavered between repeated development attempts and neglect for more than a century.
The Nodeul Global Art Island project, which broke ground in October last year, was designed by world-renowned architect Thomas Heatherwick. The project will transform the island into a complex cultural arts space called "Sound Scape," featuring an elevated walkway inspired by Korean mountains and waterfront gardens. Exhibitions, performances and leisure activities will unfold across waterfront, ground and aerial levels. After a long wait, Nodeul Island is set to be reborn as a globally recognized Seoul landmark.
Meanwhile, the "Nodeul Preview Festival" was held on the Nodeul Island lawn on May 3 at 5:30 p.m. Hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Future Space Planning Division, the event ran for approximately two hours. Citizens who attended the event experienced cultural programs offering an early glimpse of Nodeul Island's future while expressing their hopes for the project's success.
"The Seoul City Council's Housing and Space Committee has provided generous support, including allocating a budget of approximately 370 billion won ($271 million) for the Nodeul Global Art Island project," Chairman Kim said in a congratulatory address at the event. "We will do our utmost to provide institutional and budgetary backing so that Nodeul Island can become a world-class tourist destination even after its completion."