Seoul to open hidden space below City Hall subway station

Seoul is set to unveil a secret path below the City Hall subway station to the public for the first time in 40 years as the South Korean capital aims to transform the public transportation area near the country’s top foreign tourist spot into an innovative, fun space.

Seoul Metropolitan Government said it plans to open a hidden section on the second basement floor between the City Hall and Euljiro 1-ga stations on the city’s subway line 2 to citizens Sept 8-23. The Euljiro 1-ga station is on the northern end of Myeong-dong shopping district, foreign visitors' favorite area.

“It is an opportunity to see the hidden stories and history of the city center while walking and checking the unimaginable underground space under Seoul Plaza,” said Hong Seon-gi, the city’s future space planning officer, referring to the plaza in front of City Hall. 

“We will convert the city’s underground to a space reflecting citizens’ lifestyles and develop it into a new, desirable area of of Seoul.”

The concealed passage, 335 meters long and 9.5 meters wide, was estimated to have been created around 1983, according to the municipal government on Tuesday. A modern drainage channel passing in front of the passageway developed stalactites, which are usually found in caves, and the path offers opportunities for visitors to experience 80-decibel sounds and vibrations from subways passing by every four to six minutes.

The city plans to operate a tour program every Friday and Saturday – four times a day – during the period. Only 10 people are allowed to join each one-hour session. They will be provided with safety helmets, masks and water while being guided by three staff members as the mysterious space does not have lights and a ventilation system.

Anyone can apply for the tour at the city’s public service reservation website from Sept. 6.

SUBWAY STATION INNOVATION

The program is a part of Seoul’s project announced in January to innovate subway stations.

The metropolitan government plans to make some underground railway terminals places where people can enjoy various activities. For example, it aims to transform the Yeouinaru stop on subway line 5 into a station for runners as it is close to parks along the Han River where joggers gather.

Seoul is set to commercialize the space under the City Hall station based on citizens’ ideas and suggestions.

“We will make a decision with prudence as the City Hall station is in the center of Seoul, a place permeated by citizens’ lives and sorrows,” said Lee Ji-hyun, an official at the city’s vision strategy team.

The metropolitan government is scheduled to run a contest from Sept 6. to Oct. 10 to collect ideas from citizens on how to use the underground passage with an aim to transform it into a leisure space.

The authority plans to focus more on ingenuity than visual perfection while evaluating vertical and horizontal connections with surrounding facilities, as well as innovative uses of the area.

“It will be a chance to plan the future of the hidden path based on citizens’ ideas and suggestions,” said a city government official. “We will be able to see the potential of Seoul’s urban space.”

Write to Hae-Ryon Choi at haeryon@hankyung.com
 

Jongwoo Cheon edited this article.