Seoul to Invest 2.7 Trillion Won to Develop Chang-dong 'K-Entertown'... Oh: "30 Million Foreign Tourists Will Make It an Economic Core"

Mayor Oh Announces Plans for "K-Entertown"

Fostering "Seoul Arena" as a K-POP Landmark

Supporting Culture and Entertainment... Including a 700-Room Hotel

Designation as a Development Promotion District to Attract Private Investment

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will invest 2.7 trillion won to transform Chang-dong in Dobong-gu into a "K-Entertown." Centered around the Seoul Arena, which can accommodate 28,000 people, the city plans to expand hotel infrastructure and attract private investment by designating the area as a special district.

On the morning of April 21, Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced the detailed plan for creating "K-Entertown, Changdong" as a global cultural hub at Seoul City Hall. The core of the plan is to develop the Chang-dong area into a global cultural center where K-POP is present year-round, and to foster it as a cluster for the cultural and entertainment industries.

Seoul Arena bird's-eye view. Seoul City

At the heart of the initiative is the "Seoul Arena," set to open in the first half of next year. The city expects that K-POP performances will generate economic effects worth trillions of won, not only through ticket sales but also across various industries such as local accommodation, transportation, dining, and shopping.

The city will also promote the revitalization of the local performance culture and commercial district through private-sector leadership, involving the Seoul Arena’s private operator, entertainment agencies, and local merchants. Through a private-led regional revitalization council, the city will discover local brands and enhance efficiency through various collaborations.

Based on these efforts, Chang-dong will be developed into a "Live Stage" city where cultural events are held continuously. The goal is to establish the area as a hub for performances and events, creating a vibrant space that consistently attracts visitors. The city plans to hold more than 100 performances annually at the Seoul Arena, each with an audience of up to 30,000, invigorating the entire city. Additionally, street performances and busking will take place regularly at locations such as Chang-dong Station Square and under the overpass.

The city will also focus on supporting the cultural and entertainment industries to boost the local economy, including job creation. Plans include allowing domestic and international visitors to naturally encounter K-fashion and K-beauty products before and after performances at the Seoul Arena. A K-food specialty market will be established on the NH Hanaro Mart site.

In particular, the city will apply incentives of up to 1,300% floor area ratio to underutilized sites and aging commercial areas near Chang-dong Station, introducing commercial, tourist accommodation, and corporate office spaces that will drive the local economy. The first step is to introduce work facilities to the Chang-dong Station Complex Transfer Center to attract key companies in the cultural sector. The city will also secure accommodation facilities with 700 rooms through the development of the Chang-dong Station Complex Transfer Center, NH Complex Commercial Facility, and the Seoul Digital Bio City (S-DBC) support facility sites. The city estimates that foreign visitors make up 30–40% of K-POP performance audiences and that over 90% of these visitors stay in the area, indicating that concert attendance translates into local stays.

In the mid- to long-term, the city plans to designate the Chang-dong area as a special cultural and tourism development promotion district to attract private investment, with a goal of designation by 2027. Once designated, the district will be eligible for various incentives such as financial loans, tax support, and eased floor area ratio regulations.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government estimates that a total budget of 2.7 trillion won will be required to establish "K-Entertown, Changdong." By last year, a combined 2 trillion won from private and public capital had been invested, and the remaining 700 billion won will be invested starting this year. Mayor Oh stated, "The Chang-dong and Sanggye areas will become the cultural and artistic hub of northeastern Seoul, and, as we enter an era of 30 million foreign tourists, they will serve as core economic engines shaping Seoul’s future. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will strongly support the region until the potential of Gangbuk becomes its competitive edge and the possibilities for change lead to substantial narrowing of gaps, ushering in a new golden era for Gangbuk."

Detailed Plan for Establishing 'Changdong, the Global Cultural Hub K-Entertown.' Seoul Metropolitan Government

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