{
  "id": 8868674,
  "title": "Gangnam District uses smart LED lighting to bring royal history to life",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/gangnam-district-uses-smart-led-lighting-to-bring-royal-history-to",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T07:22:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/travel-food/20260921/gangnam-district-uses-smart-led-lighting-to-bring-royal-history-to-life"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Gangnam District in southern Seoul has recently installed advanced LED streetlights along a 3-kilometer route connecting Seonjeongneung Station and Bongeunsa Station, aiming to bring the area's royal and Buddhist history to life for evening strollers. Local officials announced the launch of this initiative on Monday.\n\nKnown as the \"Seonjeongneung-Bongeunsa Historical and Cultural Street of Light,\" this 1.5-kilometer stretch is situated on both sides of a one-way road named Bongeunsa-ro. The project, which commenced on September 14, includes the installation of 107 LED landscape lights and 59 image projectors along the sidewalks.\n\nSeonjeongneung, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the resting place of Joseon Dynasty King Seongjong, his consort Queen Jeonghyeon, and King Jungjong. Adjacent to it, Bongeunsa is an ancient Buddhist temple that once functioned as a royal mortuary temple linked to the tombs of the Joseon Dynasty.\n\nThe district did not simply replace older streetlights with this new technology. Instead, they designed the lighting to reflect the historical essence of both sites while enhancing pedestrian safety. The street lamps incorporate a unique symbol of Seonjeongneung, developed in-house by the district.",
  "summary": "Gangnam District in southern Seoul has unveiled new smart LED streetlights along a 3-kilometer stretch connecting Seonjeongneung Station and Bongeunsa Station, transforming an ordinary evening stroll into an illuminated journey through the area's rich royal and Buddhist heritage, local officials said Monday. The \"Seonjeongneung-Bongeunsa Historical and Cultural Street of Light\" runs along both…",
  "key_points": [
    "Gangnam District installs smart LED lighting along 3 km route.",
    "Seonjeongneung and Bongeunsa historical sites illuminated.",
    "Project aims to blend history with safety enhancements."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Gangnam District uses smart LED lighting to bring royal history to life",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/gangnam-district-uses-smart-led-lighting-to-bring-royal-history-to-8873654",
        "published": "2026-09-21T07:52:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}