Abandoned underground space beneath Seoul Plaza transforms into K-culture Station

The underground space beneath Seoul Plaza in central Seoul, which sat unused for about 40 years, has been transformed into a venue dedicated to K-culture.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government held an opening ceremony for K-culture Station, an underground space located between City Hall Station and Euljiro 1-ga Station, on Monday.

The venue currently hosts “Cosmos,” a media exhibition celebrating the 20th anniversary of boy band Big Bang’s debut.

The city plans to use the space to host similar exhibitions and other cultural content.

According to the city government, the space covers 3,261 square meters (35,101.1 square feet) and measures 9.5 meters (31.2 feet) wide and 335 meters long. It is believed to have been created in the early 1980s to connect the two subway stations, which stand at different elevations, though the plan was later abandoned.

Without a clear purpose, the space — comprising little more than concrete walls and pillars — remained unused for about four decades until September 2023, when the city invited a group of citizens to explore the entire 335-meter underground route.

The name K-culture Station reflects the concept of transferring from everyday life to culture, allowing commuters to experience K-culture in an otherwise ordinary part of their daily routines, according to the city.

The inaugural exhibition, “Cosmos,” traces Big Bang’s history through lights, videos and music. It features 11 experiential zones, including a virtual reality performance and listening area.

The exhibition is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day except Monday and will run through Sept. 27. Reservations can be made through Naver Booking, with visitors admitted in hourly time slots, and tickets cost 20,200 won ($14.50) per person. Reservations and tickets are unavailable on-site.

Following “Cosmos,” the city plans to introduce a range of cultural content to the underground space, including K-pop collaboration exhibitions, fashion events and brand pop-ups.

“We will transform hidden spaces […] into new, attractive places in Seoul for fans of K-culture around the world,” Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said in an earlier press release.

The city has been repurposing unused underground spaces across the capital in recent years. Yeouinaru Station in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, for example, was transformed into a space for runners.

Eleven more locations repurposed for relaxation and cultural activities are scheduled to open in the second half of the year.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [[email protected]]