At a hectic intersection in central Seoul, a quiet piece of 1970s history is about to make way for the future. City officials plan to relocate the decades-old fountain in front of the Bank of Korea to carve out a sprawling, 7,000-capacity plaza — transforming one of the capital's busiest tourist corridors into an open pedestrian hub for walking, relaxation and public festivals. The site sits along a tourism corridor linking the downtown shopping districts of Myeong-dong, Namdaemun Market and neighboring Mount Nam and regularly draws large crowds, particularly during year-end celebrations and major events. The redesigned plaza will remove the fountain and other obstacles that currently divide the space, expanding capacity from about 2,300 people to roughly 7,000. Officials said the larger footprint is intended to ease crowding and improve safety while giving visitors more room to stop and spend time rather than simply pass through. The city plans to connect the plaza with cultural programs, including an outdoor library, busking, K-pop performances, a floor fountain, Seoul Summer Beach an