Transforming the 'Seoul Station Area' into a Major Transportation and Cultural Hub

Seoul City Develops Master Plan for Seoul Station Area Improvement
Discusses Spatial Disconnection Reorganization and Three-Dimensional Transfer System
Consults with Ministry of Land and Collects Citizen Ideas

The area around Seoul Station, the main gateway of Seoul, will be reborn as a transportation and cultural hub as well as a central space representing Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea. Key initiatives include expanding Seoul Station Plaza and establishing a three-dimensional transportation transfer system linked to the railway undergrounding project.

On the 17th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will establish the "Seoul Station Area Space Improvement Master Plan," which outlines phased execution strategies in areas such as Seoul Station Plaza, pedestrian systems, and transportation environment improvements. A Seoul city official explained, "This is a measure to complement various current improvements around Seoul Station while efficiently responding to future changes such as railway undergrounding and future transportation demand."

In the future, additional metropolitan railways such as the KTX high-speed rail and GTX-A and B lines are planned to be constructed in this area. Recently, with the enactment of the "Special Act on Railway Undergrounding and Integrated Development of Railway Sites," discussions on undergrounding railways like the Gyeongbu Line have become active, and significant changes in urban functions and spaces are expected.

Above all, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to include in the Seoul Station area master plan the following: ▲ overcoming spatial discontinuity and reorganizing the area into a citizen-centered attractive space ▲ establishing a three-dimensional transportation transfer system to provide a convenient transportation environment ▲ restoring historical and symbolic significance and establishing the status as the national central station.

Detailed plans include ▲ expanding and reorganizing Seoul Station Plaza and improving plaza usage patterns ▲ reorganizing the flat pedestrian system around Seoul Station and creating east-west (Seoul Station to Namsan) and north-south (Gwanghwamun to Han River) pedestrian green corridors ▲ spatial changes linked to development projects around Seoul Station ▲ improving the transportation environment in front of Seoul Station and establishing an efficient metropolitan transportation transfer system ▲ improving the appearance of the Seoul Station private station building ▲ revitalizing Culture Station Seoul 284 ▲ creating a three-dimensional complex city linked to railway undergrounding at Seoul Station. Especially since various institutions are connected in the Seoul Station area, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Korail will collaborate and conduct in-depth discussions to develop concrete space improvement plans.

Previously, in September last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government signed a "Memorandum of Understanding for the Creation of National Symbolic Spaces" with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the National Architecture Policy Committee. Accordingly, the agencies will cooperate to establish national symbolic spaces that affirm the history, culture, values, and identity of the Republic of Korea and enhance the nation's status, and as part of this, discuss space improvement plans for the Seoul Station area.

Additionally, to establish plans based on social consensus, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to collect diverse ideas and opinions through initiatives such as a "Citizen Idea Contest" and the "Seoul Station Space Improvement Symposium." This month, Seoul will announce a bid for the "Seoul Station Area Space Improvement Master Plan" project, receive proposals, and commence the project, aiming to complete it by next year.

Jo Nam-jun, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Urban Space Headquarters, said, "The Seoul Station area is the face and gateway of Seoul, carrying very important symbolism, but various inconveniences and aesthetic issues have accumulated over time. Moving forward, we will listen to diverse opinions and cooperate with related agencies to redevelop it into an attractive space befitting the status of the national central station."