'88 Olympic' Jamsil Main Stadium Remodeled into a Sports and Cultural Complex Space after 40 Years

by Im Onyu

Published 29 Aug.2023 15:59(KST)

The main stadium of the 1988 Seoul Olympics and a venue for world-renowned singers' concerts, the Seoul Jamsil Sports Complex Main Stadium, will be reborn as a sports and cultural complex through a three-year remodeling project.

Expected Rendering of Jamsil Sports Complex Main Stadium Remodeling

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that the remodeling construction of the Jamsil Sports Complex Main Stadium began on the 29th. The expected completion date is December 2026. Completed in 1984, the Jamsil Sports Complex Main Stadium had become outdated over nearly 40 years, resulting in low usage rates. Accordingly, Seoul decided to proceed with remodeling and selected the design "Resonating Land, Jamsil" by Now Architects through an international design competition held in May 2018, completing the design this July.

The city planned the remodeling to significantly enhance the stadium’s functions in preparation for hosting the Olympics again. In particular, after consulting with the Korea Association of Athletics Federations to obtain certification as a Class 1 athletics stadium capable of hosting international and nationwide competitions, the design was adjusted accordingly. Approximately 30,000 upper-tier spectator seats and the athletics track will be completely replaced, and 358 seats for disabled spectators will be newly installed. An additional electronic scoreboard, previously only on the south side, will be installed on the north side, and the north spectator entrance will be expanded. The VIP room interior will be improved to enhance the internal viewing environment.

The exterior of the main stadium will preserve the original structure of the ribs and canopy to maintain its historical significance. The existing concrete deck outside will be removed, and a 30-meter-wide pedestrian plaza (Ullim Plaza) connecting Tancheon Stream and the Han River will be created to improve public accessibility.

Additionally, the deck facilities of the main stadium will be expanded to greatly increase professional and recreational sports facilities. In the east sports facility building (extension), facilities and dormitories for professional athletes specializing in triathlon, taekwondo, fencing, table tennis, athletics, boxing, and gymnastics will be arranged to support skill development. The Seoul Metropolitan Government explained, "Through this, the Jamsil Main Stadium area will be developed into an urban sports and cultural complex with a city park concept, serving as a daily space for citizens."

Along with the main stadium remodeling, the Jamsil Student Gymnasium will be relocated, and a swimming pool including a diving area will be newly constructed inside the gymnasium. In connection with the Jamsil Sports and MICE Complex private investment project, a privately funded swimming pool and auxiliary stadium will also be built to strengthen sports facility functions. Notably, the swimming pool inside the student gymnasium is designed as a certified Class 1 pool capable of hosting international competitions, linked with the privately funded swimming pool (currently in design). The city plans to sign a business agreement with the Office of Education to promote the project.

Seizing the remodeling opportunity, the city will introduce 'water-source energy,' a renewable energy system using Han River water, to the main stadium to reduce greenhouse gases by establishing an eco-friendly cooling system. Approximately 35% of the stadium’s cooling will be supplied by water-source energy. This is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 1,450 tons annually compared to fossil fuel use, equivalent to planting 219,000 pine trees, and save 220 million KRW in electricity costs each year.

Yeo Jang-kwon, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Balanced Development Headquarters, said, "We will do our best to ensure that the Jamsil Main Stadium, the sacred site of the 1988 Olympics, is reborn as a landmark of Seoul that preserves its historical value while becoming a complex space where sports and daily life harmonize."