On Sept. 29, 1895, in the 32nd year of King Gojong's reign and at the height of the Gabo Reform, word spread among the people of a startling change: the nighttime curfew in the capital, in place since the early years of the Joseon Dynasty, was being abolished. Under the old system, a bell rang 28 times at 10 p.m. — the hour known as injeong — to close the city gates, and 33 times at 4 a.m., at parun, to open them again. Five centuries of nights in which a single peal of a bell held an entire city in place came to an end.
A job title unfamiliar to most Seoul residents has recently appeared at the city government: special adviser for the night economy. The idea is to turn Seoul's nighttime hours into economic hours. It is not Seoul's invention. Amsterdam already has a Night Mayor. London has appointed a Night Czar to promote its after-dark economy. China unveiled a night economy policy in 2019 as part of its dual circulation strategy.
Seoul has reasons for looking to the night. Reviving neighborhood commerce and expanding leisure options for residents are among them, but the bigger driver is the influx of tourists. A record 1.61 million foreign visitors came to Seoul in July, the highest monthly total ever. From January through July, the figure reached 9.83 million, up more than 21% from a year earlier. Card spending by foreign visitors over the same period rose 59% to 6.7 trillion won. The city says it aims to generate an additional 5 trillion won in annual nighttime spending within five years.
The city's clock is being pushed back as well. Starting this month, municipal museums, art galleries and libraries in Seoul will extend closing times from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in phases, and public sports facilities will stay open until as late as midnight. Six well-known restaurant districts, including the Konkuk University food street, have been designated as "Seoul Moonlight Night Markets" and will receive city funding. Plans call for nighttime lighting and food offerings, along with upgrades to walkways, streetlights and security cameras.
Keeping the lights on late does not make money circulate on its own. Handsome lighting and outdoor tables do not conjure up customers who were not there before. Noise, garbage and public safety are problems still to be solved. The point is not to make night resemble day. What is worth hoping for is a Seoul night that the daytime cannot offer.
