Seoul Mayor Inspects Construction Site of Seoul Arena Set to Open Next Year

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the construction site of Seoul Arena and the area around Chang-dong Station this morning (the 23rd) to inspect the construction progress.

Seoul Arena is a performance-focused complex cultural facility being developed around 1-23 Chang-dong, Dobong-gu.

It will feature South Korea's largest arena performance venue capable of accommodating up to 28,000 people, alongside a mid-sized concert hall with a capacity of 7,000.

The current construction progress stands at 81 percent, with completion scheduled for May next year and an official opening targeted for June.

Mayor Oh received a briefing at the site on the construction progress and plans for establishing popular music support facilities.

He then toured the rear section of NH Hanaro Mart opposite the arena, the pedestrian deck along the Jungnangcheon Stream, the underpass of the Chang-dong Station elevated structure, and the planned site of the "Seoul Moonlight Night Market," jointly inspecting surrounding environment improvements and regional commercial revitalization plans in preparation for the opening.

Mayor Oh emphasized, "Seoul Arena will serve as a space where various music performances, including K-pop, will unfold, and will become a major hub for the 'Renaissance of Gangbuk' that breathes new vitality into northeastern Seoul," adding, "We will meticulously oversee everything from the construction and operational preparations of the venue to traffic and pedestrian safety for visitors and the revitalization of local commercial districts before the opening."

The Seoul Metropolitan Government expects approximately 2.7 million tourists to visit the Chang-dong area annually following the opening of Seoul Arena.

Expectations within the performance industry are also high.

The city explained that the first regular booking period held last month for concert schedules in the second half of 2027 recorded a competition rate of up to 4 to 1.

Beyond hosting large-scale performances, the city plans to directly operate popular music support facilities within Seoul Arena to back the overall popular music industry.

While supporting the growth of small and mid-sized agencies and rookie artists and expanding opportunities for creation and performance, the city will also promote the cultivation of professional personnel for the performance industry, including performance planning, marketing, and management, as well as technical experts in stage production, sound, and lighting.

Commercial spaces will be reorganized so that visitors can enjoy and utilize nearby commercial districts.

NH Hanaro Mart, facing Seoul Arena, plans to reorganize its rear section and set up external pop-up stores, while pop-up stores and outdoor markets are also being promoted along the section connecting the arena and Chang-dong Station.

In particular, the area around Chang-dong Station will be fostered as the "Seoul Moonlight Night Market."

Plans are underway to create a specialized street and improve nighttime landscapes to build a night commercial district where food and music harmonize.

To prepare for large concentrations of crowds before and after major performances, an administrative consultative body with relevant organizations has been formed to devise countermeasures.

Measures being discussed include increasing bus services aligned with concert end times and operating temporary trains on Subway Lines 1 and 4, while the operation of a separate drop-off and pick-up zone for guardian vehicles is also under review for teenage audience members.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.