Assessing accessibility of cultural sites through the 15-minute city framework in Seoul

This study investigates the accessibility of cultural and heritage sites in Seoul through the innovative lens of the 15-minute city framework, a model that prioritizes proximity to essential resources to foster equity, inclusion, and sustainability. Using GIS-based analysis, this study employed vital dimensions such as walkability, multimodal transit connectivity, land-use diversity, safety, equity, retail activity, and carbon emissions, to build a composite 15-minute accessibility index for cultural and heritage sites. The preliminary findings revealed pronounced spatial inequities, where the sites were predominantly clustered in Seoul’s urban core. Unexpectedly transit proximity and walkability present critical challenges in the central isochrone areas. For the sites in the peripheral areas, walkability and proximity to transit are better, but safety, equity, carbon emissions, and social dependency are clear challenges. These gaps restrict equitable, inclusive, and sustainable cultural accessibility. This study proposes a suite of tailored interventions, including decentralizing cultural infrastructure to underserved areas, expanding multimodal transit networks to enhance connectivity, improving walkability, fostering mixed-use neighbourhoods, and proposing participatory approach to integrate cultural accessibility as an essential element of the daily life for everyone. Aligning with Seoul’s Vision 2030 agenda, these strategies address local disparities and position cultural accessibility as a linchpin for sustainable urban development. This parallels other global metropolises facing similar challenges, showing that integrating cultural resources into urban planning can bolster inclusivity and resilience. This study provides actionable insights into global discourse on creating liveable, sustainable, and culturally vibrant urban environments.