Visit to Changdong Seoul Arena Site... 34% Construction Progress
Largest Arena in Korea to Become a Complex Cultural Facility
Expected to Attract 2.7 Million Visitors Annually, Emerging as a Cultural and Tourism Hub
Oh: "We Will Proceed Without Delay, Taking Pride in Completing a Masterpiece"
Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon visited the construction site of 'Seoul Arena,' the largest complex cultural facility in South Korea, to inspect the management status. Despite variables such as rising interest rates and surging construction costs following the COVID-19 pandemic, 'Seoul Arena,' which broke ground in November 2023, is proceeding as planned through cooperation between the public sector and the project implementation corporation.
On the afternoon of September 1, Mayor Oh visited the Changdong site of the Seoul Arena project, thoroughly inspecting various parts of the construction site. He stated, "A year and a half from now, Seoul Arena will be transformed into a world-class performance venue that attracts global artists like Huntrix from K-Pop Demon Hunters," adding, "By supplying world-class performance infrastructure, which has long been needed in the pop culture industry, we aim to attract 2.7 million visitors annually and serve as a catalyst for the development of K-pop and the popular culture industry."
A bird's-eye view of 'Seoul Arena,' the largest complex cultural facility in South Korea, to be built in Changdong, Dobong-gu, Seoul. Seoul City
Seoul Arena, ambitiously pursued since 2009 as part of the 'Northeast Renaissance Project' to expand large-scale performance infrastructure in Seoul, will be developed as a complex cultural space. It will include a 'specialized performance hall' that can accommodate up to 28,000 spectators simultaneously, a 'medium-sized performance hall' with a capacity of up to 7,000 people, as well as commercial facilities.
All of the initial variables for the project have been resolved. At one point, the project was hindered by a contraction in the project financing market due to rising interest rates and a decline in profitability caused by increased construction costs. The failure of arena projects in other cities, excluding Seoul, also had an impact. The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic increased risks related to the economic viability of performance businesses, even leading private sector operators to request withdrawal from the project.
In response, Seoul City established a dedicated department for the northeastern region, where Seoul Arena is being built, and devised measures to enhance business feasibility, such as changing facility usage based on market conditions. The city also implemented various support initiatives, including the undergrounding of the Dongbu Expressway and the expansion of green infrastructure such as parks, to improve convenience for visitors to Seoul Arena and to build public consensus on infrastructure expansion.
Seoul City believes that Seoul Arena will be more than just a performance venue; it will mark the beginning of fulfilling long-standing aspirations in the popular music and cultural industries. The city emphasized that the key is to complete a performance venue specialized for popular music that will satisfy K-pop, global artists, and performance producers alike, featuring state-of-the-art sound systems, stage and equipment, and seating designed for optimal viewing experiences.
The location is also excellent. The project site is adjacent to Changdong Station on subway lines 1 and 4, and Nowon Station on lines 4 and 7. When the GTX-C line opens in the future, the area is expected to become a major transportation hub, connecting downtown Seoul and Gangnam within 20 minutes and Incheon International Airport within an hour. Mayor Oh said, "We will carry out the remaining construction with pride, as we are completing a masterpiece that will establish Seoul as a global performance mecca."
Meanwhile, the site inspection was also attended by PLAVE, the first promotional ambassador for Startup Seoul and an idol group that bridges the virtual and real worlds. PLAVE expressed their anticipation, saying, "Seoul Arena will be an amazing space where K-pop artists can shine even more. We look forward to the day we can perform at Seoul Arena."
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