Seoul's 14 Aging Subway Stations Transformed into 'Open Cultural and Art Spaces'

Investment of 264 Billion KRW... Establishing Cultural and Art Platforms Including Flea Markets and Art Museums by Next Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Seoul subway stations are being transformed into regional hubs that reflect culture, arts, design, and trends.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 10th that it will invest 264 billion KRW by next year to create cultural and artistic spaces in 14 subway stations across Seoul.

The project targets 2 specialized pilot stations, 8 stations on Line 1, and 4 stations on Line 4, where platforms, concourses, and unused spaces will be fully or partially renovated.

The city plans to first develop Yeongdeungpo Market Station on Line 5 as a specialized cultural arts railway pilot station. Under the theme of "Rediscovery of the Market," the underground first-floor concourse will be transformed into the "Local Creator Market," a space for a monthly themed flea market and an exhibition area for local cultural content.

Additionally, the unused space on the underground second floor (former station office) will be developed into the "Local Creator Lounge," featuring local advertising content screenings reflecting Yeongdeungpo’s regional characteristics, a caf? culture space reinterpreting the area, exhibition spaces, and community rooms, serving as a venue for fostering local community. The vacant commercial space on the second basement floor will be turned into the "Local Creator Lab," providing opportunities for local residents and artists to interact through facilities such as a YouTube content production room, product photography studio, and pop-up exhibition space.

The station stairs will be transformed into Staircase Art Museums 1, 2, and 3, exhibiting works by three emerging artists from inside and outside the region. Each staircase will feature different concepts and content based on regional characteristics, offering citizens easy access to art in their daily lives.

The pilot station project at Gunja Station will convert some areas into an "Open Art Museum," utilizing unused spaces within the symmetrical passageway section centered around the Line 5 platform at Gunja Station.

Since Line 1 has been in operation since 1974, its facilities are severely aged. Among the 10 stations operated by Seoul Metro between Seoul and Cheongnyangni, 8 stations excluding the 2 already remodeled stations (City Hall and Dongmyo) will undergo renovation in two phases.

For Line 4, among the 7 stations without air conditioning (Sinyongsan, Ichon, Chungjeongno, Seoul, Hansung University, Mia, Ssangmun), 4 stations in the Gangbuk area will be prioritized for balanced regional development, improving them into safe and comfortable environments where the space itself becomes content.

Hwang Bo-yeon, Director of Urban Transportation at Seoul City, said, "We will infuse culture and arts into the bleak subway stations to provide enjoyable experiences and convenience, transforming them into cultural and artistic hubs for the community."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.