Save travel information you're interested in according to the region to view in your favorites list later on.
※ The actual region of the content is selected.
Underneath metropolitan Seoul is more than just a convenient subway system that is recognized as one of the top systems in the world. In addition to gigantic underground shopping centers and pedestrian paths, the Seoul’s underground spaces are beginning to be filled with history, culture, art, and nature. Seeds of the future are taking root beneath our very feet!
For a long time, phrases used to describe the “Yujin Shopping Center” were crude and tough, like the antitank base for demonstrations in the 1970s, the first residential-commercial complex (Tower Place of the 1970s) built with Sewoon Plaza in Jongno, and the apartment building with bad luck that had to be torn down for the opening of the Naebusunhwan-ro. Now, the shopping center can be described more naturally. The lower section of the Yujin Shopping Center, which was closed for some time even after the formation of the Hongjecheon Stream Walking Path, opened in March, but was rarely visited by the public due to its atmosphere that was as dark and secluded as ever. However, thanks to a public art project by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the section was transformed into an artistic space called “Hongje Yuyeon.” The lower 250-meter section that was once filled with the 100 poles that supported the Yujin Shopping Center building above the river is now an exhibition hall filled with light and music. “Hongje Yuyeon” means, “The flow of the relationship between water and humans that leads to harmony and healing through art.” Follow the light across the stepping stones to see eight pieces of art installations, light art, media art, and sound art along the water. The section has an area for rest and exhibits artworks made through communication with local residents like drawings of future ecosystems by students of Hongje Elementary School and Inwangsan Elementary School and the “Hongje Manicha” made with messages shared by the public. After viewing the exhibitions, visitors can walk up to the ground floor to find fruit shops spread out along the first floor of Yujin Shopping Center A-dong and Inwang Market across the street.
Step off the subway and into a forest. Past the fragrant forest is a garden filled with greens. In March 2019, Noksapyeong Station (Line 6) was reborn through a public art project organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Public art works were installed on all five basement floors of Noksapyeong Station. The space on the frontline of everyday life is now a platform where people can come encounter art. The first basement level of Noksapyeong Station is the “Shape of Light,” the fourth basement level is the “Sounds of the Forest,” and the fifth basement level is the “Temperature of the Ground,” and all are occupied by works of local and foreign artists. There is no separate admission fee for these spaces. Viewing of the venue begins when the subway stops on the fifth basement level of Noksapyeong Station. Next, take the escalator to the fourth basement level to experience feelings of a subway station of Moscow that is packed with art. The artwork hanging from the ceiling like worms is the work of artist Cho Sohee, “Here in Noksapyeong…” The pieces are crocheted aluminum wires. Artist Kim A Yeon’s “Forest Gallery” is the highlight of the fourth basement level. There are several boards standing on one side of the station, and inside the space is a forest-like area for resting. Beyond the turnstile and towards the escalator is the “Garden of Time.” Finally, awaiting the public is the “Dance of Light.” The light from the dome ceiling permeates throughout the entire subway station. The beauty of Noksapyeong Station changes with the weather, time, and season.
On June 1, 2019, a historical and cultural park was formed at the Seosomun Negeori Shrine. Seosomun Gate, which sits between Seoul Station and Chungjeong-ro, carries a historical significance. At the intersection outside Seosomun Gate was a national execution ground during the Joseon period. Starting with the Sinyu Persecution in 1801 and up until the Byeongin Persecution of 1866, many Catholics were martyred at this very site as extensive persecutions of Catholicism continued. This site is Korea’s largest Catholic shrine and a sacred site of martyrdom. The Seosomun Shrine History Museum visually realizes the inherent features of the region to display the entire history of the area as an artistic space that transcends religion where anyone can come find some peace and quiet. The museum is a space of 24,000 square meters that presents an elegant atmosphere with dark red bricks. The museum is organized with the first through third basement level containing a permanent exhibition hall, special exhibition hall, the Sky Plaza, Sky Road, Consolation Hall, and more. The venue is filled with artworks, starting with Artist Lee Kyeong-su’s “Plaza of Light” at the entrance of the museum. The venue can easily be seen as a space for an aesthetic experience. The Consolation Hall on the third basement level is a cube-shaped hall with a screen showing the history of Catholic persecution and natural phenomena played with Mozart’s “Requiem.” The Sky Plaza located near the hall is home to Artist Jeong Hyeon’s “Standing People.” The 44 pieces of art are dedicated to the 44 individuals who were tragically martyred at the site.
The historical space of modern and contemporary history was returned to the public after 82 years. The site of the Seoul Hall of Urbanism & Architecture is where the old communications building of the Japanese Governor-General stood during the Japanese occupation of Korea. As a building that stands directly opposite of Seoul Plaza, the Seoul Hall of Urbanism & Architecture is the country’s first museum of urbanism and architecture, composed of one ground floor and three basement levels. The museum exhibits ideas of urbanism, architecture, and space that envision the urban development and future of the city of Seoul. It is recommended that visitors begin the exhibition at the third basement level and make their way up to the first ground floor. Currently, occupying the Vium Hall on the third basement level is the exhibition, “City as Verb.” Exhibition categories include moving, mixing, regenerating, participating, and layering. The exhibition offers a glance into dynamic cities around the globe and insight into major cities with the same urban architectural problems as Seoul. Gallery 3 is home to an exhibition of the 11 winning works of “Project Seoul,” a contest for Seoul public architecture. On the second basement level is the exhibition, “Our Neighborhood, OurVillage, Seoul is Changing,” which is a record of Seoul’s public architecture. Come out to the first basement level and up the side stairs to the rooftop to see Cheomseongdae Observatory, Korea’s National Treasure No. 31. The piece “Rebirth” is the Cheomseongdae Observatory made from headlights collected from junkyards.
Fresh vegetables are cultivated in the subway station. This might sound unusual, but it is an indisputable fact. In 2019, the country’s first “Metro Farm” opened in Sangdo Station (Line 7). Metro Farm is a smart farm installed in a subway station – a smart farm refers to a farm in which plants are raised through an automated system and robots. State-of-the-art information and communications technologies are used to control lighting, temperature, humidity, and atmospheric concentrations required to cultivate plants. Thanks to the technologies, plants can grow in a closed space without sunlight or a drop of rain, as long as the automated system is in place. Because the plants are cultivated in a closed, indoor space, there is no exposure to fine particulate matter, making the plants edible and available for cultivation at any time, all 365 days of the year and all 24 hours of the day. The plants are cultivated in a sterilized state, which prevents damage caused by diseases and harmful insects, and does not require the use of pesticides or herbicides. The vegetables grown in Metro Farm are processed and sold as salads and juices. Anyone can easily purchase them from the unmanned vending machines, and some vegetables can be purchased unprocessed. Metro Farms can be found at Sangdo Station, Dapsimni Station, Euljiro 3(sam)-ga Station, Chungjeongno Station, and Cheonwang Station, and there are also experiential programs available for children. Reservations for the experiential programs can be made at the Farm Academy website, which includes theory education on smart farms, a tour, harvesting of original plants, and a salad-making experience.
The Amore Pacific Headquarters was designed by the prominent, world-famous architect, David Chipperfield. The building has a unique exterior with about 20,000 handwoven blinds in the shape of a perfectly arranged white cube. The distinct exterior is a reflection of Chipperfield’s inspiration from a traditional moon jar from the Joseon period. The museum stands as the only tranquil space in Yongsan, a noisy forest of buildings, like pure white porcelain. The Amore Pacific Museum of Art (APMA) opened under the name “Pacific Museum” in 1979 with artworks collected by former president and founder of Amore Pacific, Suh Sung-whan. The name was changed to its current name in 2009, and the museum settled into the headquarters that was completed in 2018. On the first floor of the museum entrance is the museum shop, “Atrium,” and the exhibition space, “APMA Cabinet.” The Exhibition Hall on the first basement level is home to colorful special exhibitions that incorporate contemporary art, Korean art, and ancient art. The “APMA, CHAPTER TWO” exhibition is currently open, displaying a collection of paintings, ceramics, metals, and woodcrafts collected by Amore Pacific. Only 20 are permitted per session and a 30-minute waiting time is required if the session time is missed, so making a reservation before visiting is recommended. Reservations can be made at the Amore Pacific Museum of Art (APMA) website.
The Gongpyeong-dong area, which was designated a redevelopment zone in 1978, was under redevelopment until 2010. During the process of advancing the Urban Environment Maintenance Project of 2015, old cultural properties from Hanyang of the Joseon period to Gyeongseong of recent times were discovered in Gongpyeong-dong. The “Gongpyeong Historic Site Museum” was built to preserve old artifacts of buildings, roads, and alleyways discovered at that time. Of the discovered features, those from the 16th-17th centuries were found to be in good condition, and they were moved to the inside of the museum and restored. The Gongpyeong Historic Site Museum differs from other history museums in that the original sites in which cultural properties were found were preserved as much as possible to be shown in the exhibitions. The locations of housing sites and alleyways were kept intact, and efforts were made to preserve the appearances of the olden times. Today’s Gongpyeong-dong belonged to Gyeonpyeong-bang in the central district of Hanyang during the Joseon period, and Gyeonpyeong-bang was known as the busiest part of town at the time. Government offices, shops, and other main facilities were located here and occupied by people of various classes. The best way to enjoy the Gongpyeong Historic Site Museum is to look around the site and use one’s imagination to the fullest to imagine stories of the times.
In front of the Yeouido Bus Transfer Center is a secret spot. Open the glass doors by the crosswalk to find stairs leading down to the basement and step into the SeMA Bunker. This “bunker,” which is believed to have been made during the military dictatorship of the 1970s as a place for the president to take shelter in an emergency, was discovered during a field survey for the construction of the Yeouido Bus Transfer Center in 2005. Renovations began in 2016, and the “SeMA Bunker” opened in October 2017 under operation of the Seoul Museum of Art. The bunker is largely divided into the History Gallery and the Exhibition Hall. The History Gallery displays sofas from the old bunker’s VIP room, a bathroom, and photos of Yeouido in the past. The Exhibition Hall houses an exhibit of photos, videos, installments, and other various contemporary artworks. The current exhibition, “The Journey of Eternity,” will be on display until September 13.
The Ewha Campus Complex (ECC) at Ewha Womans University is the country’s largest basement levels. As a building born to the hands of architect Dominique Perrault, who also designed the National Library of France, the six-floor underground structure replaced the old sports field to create a “gorge” on both sides of the building. The ECC lies under the ground but does not feel like an underground space. The wide glass windows on each side of the building let plenty of light shine in. The white walls also make the building interior appear more spacious and pleasant. When construction of the ECC was completed in 2008, the building was awarded Grand Prize at the Seoul Architecture Awards, and the reason for its win was not merely due to its aesthetics. The building was praised for its heating and cooling system that uses geothermal heat and underground water, as well as the “ecological” aspects such as the creation of a garden at the very top floor of the building. Inside the ECC is a library, theater, gym, cafeteria, a bank, and other convenience facilities.
Not all underground passageways are dark and dull. The path to Jonggak Station (Line 1) is fresh and green. The “Solar Garden” that sits in front of Jongno Books on the second basement level of Jongno Tower is an underground garden in the city that uses the technology of collecting light from aboveground in high densities and delivering it to the basement. As the amount of solar power differs according to the weather conditions, hybrid lights connected to artificial lightings help maintain bright lights regardless of the weather. The “garden” that was created earlier this year after about one year of construction is home to 37 types of plants, which include yuzu trees, kumquat trees, lemon trees, and other fruit trees. The garden serves as a resting area in addition to having cultural functions. The stairs by the greens were remade into a venue for small lectures or concerts, and the site currently operates the “Jongno Young Forest,” a cultural market for youths that provides opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
#MetroFarm #Exhibition #SubwayGallery #SacredPlace #Jongno #Underground #AmorePacific #UndergroundGallery #Art #Campus #ArtGallery #SecretArea #SeoulUnderground