"Monthly Income Only 830,000 Won"... Sangbong Terminal Closing After 38 Years

Operator Continues to Request Abolition from Seoul City Due to Financial Difficulties
Mixed-Use Building Planned on Demolition Site in 2029

Seoul's Sangbong Terminal in Sangbong-dong, Jungnang-gu, is disappearing into history after 38 years.

According to a Yonhap News report on the 4th, Sangbong Bus Terminal, which has been struggling with financial difficulties, will close its doors on the 30th of this month.

Sangbong Terminal opened in 1985 in response to the demand to decentralize the functions of Dongmajang Intercity Bus Terminal in Dongdaemun-gu as Seoul expanded in the 1970s.

A closure notice is posted in front of Sangbong Terminal.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Since then, it once established itself as one of the central terminals in the northern part of the city, with daily users exceeding 20,000 at its peak, but as the number of users gradually declined, Sangbong Terminal faced difficulties. The completion of Dong Seoul Terminal in 1990, which dispersed passengers, had a significant impact.

As of October this year, the average daily number of users at Sangbong Terminal is only 26, and the total monthly revenue is just 836,336 won. Since April this year, there has been only one remaining route operating to Wonju.

The terminal operator, Shin Aju, which had been struggling financially, requested the Seoul Metropolitan Government to revoke its business license more than ten times since 1997. When Seoul City repeatedly refused, Shin Aju filed an administrative lawsuit in 2004, and in December 2007, the Supreme Court delivered a final ruling that "Seoul City must accept the revocation of the business license."

An official explained, "After the Supreme Court ruling and the decision to close the terminal in 2008, the execution was delayed several times due to repeated failures in land development plans. Since 2001, the terminal was relocated underground to reduce operations, and the ground floor was leased out, but it incurred an annual deficit of about 400 to 500 million won."

The interior of Sangbong Terminal is quiet due to a decrease in passengers.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

A Shin Aju official stated, "Once terminal operations end on the 30th of this month, we will complete the selection of a construction company within this year and begin demolishing the building in the first half of next year."

On the site where the terminal will be demolished, a 49-story mixed-use building consisting of 999 apartment units, 308 officetel units, and commercial and cultural facilities will be constructed. The expected completion date is 2029.

Merchants and nearby residents expressed both regret and anticipation over the closure of Sangbong Terminal. A merchant who has operated a stall in front of the terminal since 1988 said, "It's sad to see a building filled with memories disappear," adding, "But if a new building is constructed beautifully, it will attract more customers and be good."

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