When complete, the Seoul government forecasts 630,000 transit passengers will visit the underground complex in Gangnam every day, nearly double the number at Seoul Station. (Image: Seoul Metropolitan Government)
SEOUL, July. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — Plans for Seoul’s largest underground construction project yet have been revealed, which will see the city inject 1.3 trillion won into building a massive ‘underground city’ 30 times bigger than Jamsil Baseball Stadium underneath the busy roads of Gangnam by 2023.
According to the master plan for the Yeongdong-daero underground complex project revealed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Thursday, the largest multi-purpose underground complex to date will be packed with cultural facilities including an exhibition hall, a museum and a library, while serving as a major transport hub in the southern part of the capital.
Located between Samsung station and Bongeunsa Station under the Yeongdong-daero thoroughfares that run through one of the busiest districts in the South Korean capital, the giant underground complex will connect Line 2 and 9 of the subway through a direct transfer passageway, while serving as a junction of five train lines including KTX, GTX-A, and GTX-C.
When complete, the Seoul government forecasts 630,000 transit passengers will visit the underground complex in Gangnam every day, nearly double the number at Seoul Station.
The length of time spent transferring from one mode of transport to another is also expected to be slashed drastically, as Seoul government officials are confident that subway passengers at the complex will be able to make their way up to the bus stops on ground level within two minutes.
Stretching over six basement levels in depth, the first two basement levels will serve as a cultural public facility as well as a shopping mall, while the third underground floor will be used as a parking lot for tour buses to ease traffic on one of the busiest roads in the country.
Plans for Seoul’s largest underground construction project yet have been revealed, which will see the city inject 1.3 trillion won into building a massive ‘underground city’ 30 times bigger than Jamsil Baseball Stadium underneath the busy roads of Gangnam by 2023. (Image: Seoul Metropolitan Government)
The urban planning project, according to the blueprint revealed yesterday, will see the new underground complex connected with the COEX shopping mall and Hyundai’s proposed new headquarters in the nearby area, creating a giant ‘underground city’.
Another perk to come out of Seoul’s new project is a plaza stretched out over 240 meters in length and 70 meters in width, replacing some parts of the road above the newly proposed underground complex, two and a half times bigger than Seoul Plaza facing City Hall.
With the central government and Hyundai Motor’s help, construction on Seoul’s new underground project is set to kick off in 2019.
Hyunsu Yim (hyunsu@koreabizwire.com)
