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On August 15, 1974, marking the 29th anniversary of Korea's liberation, the country's first subway line, the 'Jongno Line,' opened. Since then, Seoulites have lived in the “Subway Age” for five decades. The Seoul Metropolitan Subway is familiar to everyone who has traveled to and from Seoul. It was not just a convenient public transportation system that eases commutes to school and work; it was a vehicle for a ‘new era of modern life.’ Back then, the subway was a new experience for everyone in Seoul. Over time, as we adapted to this new era, the subway gradually changed our mindset, lifestyle, culture, and the city itself. It has served as a commuter train for the city’s many workers, a transportation service that makes it easy for everyone to get around and keep appointments, a meet-up point, and a venue for consumption. The subway also provided a social space where people could mingle, fostering both a sense of community and deep aloneness. Furthermore, it has reshaped urban spaces and living areas, and as a comfortable cultural space accessible anywhere, it has expanded people's cultural enjoyment.
The Seoul Metropolitan Subway has been “connecting” Seoul through its underground network and to the outlying areas, shaping the capital city as we know it today. To mark the 50th anniversary of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, the Seoul Museum of History and Seoul Metro have partnered to present this commemorative exhibition. We cordially invite you to this exhibition, which we hope will offer an opportunity to reflect on Seoul’s story, created by the subway and its people, and to envision what the future holds for the city.