Dongjak-gu Noryangjin Modern Sewer Box Reborn as a Cultural Space

With a 3.5 Billion KRW Budget, Transformed into a Cultural and Historical Education Space for the Whole Family... 90m Section of the Culturally Valuable Underground Modern Sewer Box, Total Area 366㎡... Installation of Elevator and Exhibition Space Enhances Tourism Function and Usability as a Walking Passage in the Fish Market

Perspective View of Noryangjin Modern Sewer Box Cultural Space Utilization

Cross-section view

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) is set to officially begin construction this month on a project to excavate the Noryangjin Modern Sewer Box, which was built before the opening of Korea's first railway, the Gyeongin Line, and has been forgotten underground, and repurpose it as a cultural space.

The modern sewer box is a rectangular structure buried beneath Noryangjin-ro and the Line 1 railway, which discharged urban rainwater and sewage until about 10 years ago. It measures 2.5 meters in width, 3.3 meters in height, with a total area of 366 square meters.

This cultural heritage site allows a comprehensive view of the modern sewer system's development, as it includes sections installed in the 1890s?preceding the underground sewer pipeline beneath Seoul Plaza designated as a Seoul city cultural asset (circa 1910)?sections installed during the double-tracking of the Gyeongbu Line in the 1960s, and sections installed during the electrification of the metropolitan subway in the 1970s.

Since its discovery during sewer pipeline maintenance work in 2011, the project has involved on-site investigations and inspections in collaboration with the Cultural Heritage Administration and Seoul city to assess its historical preservation value and potential to revitalize the local commercial district. A budget of 3.5 billion KRW (city funds) will be invested to develop it into a cultural space.

The district office completed detailed safety inspections, design services, content and utilization planning by last year, and after business consultations with the Korea Railroad Corporation in January, began relocating trees this month. Construction is scheduled to be completed by December and the site will be opened to residents.

Additionally, by comparing and analyzing overseas cases, the district explored utilization plans for the sewer box tailored to local conditions along an approximately 90-meter section from near Noryangjin-dong 40-90 to the publicly accessible area at Noryangjin-dong 13-18, including ▲improving accessibility and creating passageways ▲enhancing tourism functions ▲improving the aesthetics and safety of the underground environment.

In the buffer green zone, two elevators will be installed at entrances and exits to improve accessibility for pedestrians with disabilities, seniors, and others with mobility challenges, allowing families to stroll together. New entrances with straight staircases will also be constructed.

Opposite the elevators, an exhibition space will be established to display photos and paintings depicting the history of the district and Noryangjin, creating a space for tourism and historical education experiences.

Furthermore, to enhance the underground environment's aesthetics and safety and maximize the cultural heritage value, a project will be undertaken to preserve the existing modern drainage structure.

Kim Sang-hoon, Director of the Water Management Division, stated, “The modern sewer box, constructed during the formation period of the modern sewer system, holds great value as a historical education site where one can observe Seoul’s urban development and the evolution of modern sewers.” He added, “With smooth project progress, it is expected to become a landmark that residents want to visit.”

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