Groundbreaking Ceremony at Construction Site Scheduled for the 2nd
Concert Hall with a Capacity of 28,000 Spectators
Subway Passes and New GTX Line Planned
The creation project of 'Seoul Arena,' Seoul's first K-pop-centered complex cultural facility, has officially entered its full-scale phase. Seoul Arena is a mega-performance venue with a capacity of up to 28,000 spectators and is expected to become a new economic hub in the northeastern area of Seoul.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it held a groundbreaking ceremony for the 'Seoul Arena Complex Cultural Facility Private Investment Project' on the afternoon of the 2nd at the planned construction site (1-23 Chang-dong, Dobong-gu, Seoul) together with the special purpose corporation Seoul Arena Co., Ltd., which is in charge of the project. About 250 people, including Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Dobong-gu District Mayor Oh Eun-seok, Nowon-gu District Mayor Oh Seung-rok, project stakeholders, and local residents, attended the ceremony.
The Seoul Arena complex cultural facility was initiated by Kakao, which established the project implementation corporation Seoul Arena Co., Ltd. in June 2022 and began construction on November 30 last year. The goal is to complete the project by March 2027. The Seoul Metropolitan Government provides the site, while Seoul Arena Co., Ltd. is responsible for facility construction, operation, and maintenance. Seoul Arena will include a K-pop-centered music performance hall with 18,269 seats capable of accommodating up to 28,000 spectators simultaneously, a medium-sized performance hall with a capacity of up to 7,000 people, a cinema, and commercial facilities.
Seoul Arena has introduced state-of-the-art architectural acoustics, variable stages, and equipment specialized for popular music performances to provide an optimal environment for audiences, artists, and production companies alike. Seoul City and Kakao explained, "By establishing a professional performance facility that had been insufficient compared to the growth of K-culture, we have joined forces to promote not only the qualitative growth of domestic performance culture but also the development of the performance ecosystem and the strengthening of K-pop's global status."
In particular, the Chang-dong area where Seoul Arena is located is served by subway lines 1 and 4 (Chang-dong Station), lines 4 and 7 (Nowon Station), and plans include the new GTX-C line and the undergrounding of the Dongbu Expressway. Accordingly, with accessibility secured, which is an essential factor for activating large-scale performance facilities, it is expected that domestic and international audiences will be able to visit Seoul Arena comfortably.
The city expects to attract 2.5 million domestic and international visitors annually to Seoul Arena, creating jobs. Kakao plans to contribute to regional development and create growth opportunities for marginalized artists after completion, as well as hold outdoor events in cooperation with local businesses to promote community coexistence.
Jung Shin-ah, CEO of Kakao, stated, "Kakao will also focus on creating spaces and programs where global K-pop fans can experience not only music but various K-culture and content in a complex way." She added, "In particular, we will continuously strive to establish Seoul Arena as a landmark representing Dobong-gu and, further, the city of Seoul."
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said, "Seoul Arena will become a mecca for Hallyu tourism, leading the renaissance of northern Seoul and becoming a landmark representing the northeastern area of the attractive city of Seoul." He added, "Until the day when Hallyu fans from around the world watch K-pop performances together at Seoul Arena, I ask for your great interest and support for Seoul Arena."
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