The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the construction site of the Seoul Arena in Chang-dong at 2:30 PM on the 1st to check the progress and safety management status.
The Seoul Arena began construction in November 2023. Despite difficulties such as interest rate hikes and rising construction costs, the project has reached a 34% completion rate, advancing 114% compared to the initial plan through cooperation between the public and the project implementation corporation.
The Seoul Arena is being developed as a multi-cultural facility, including a professional performance hall for up to 28,000 people and a medium-sized concert hall for 7,000 people. It has been promoted as part of the Northeast Renaissance project since 2009 but faced challenges such as a freeze in financial markets, rising construction costs, and the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.
To improve project viability, the Seoul city government established a dedicated department and adjusted the facility’s use. It also supported licensing and expanded surrounding infrastructure to ensure the project’s normal progress. Concurrently, projects such as the undergrounding of the eastern arterial road and the creation of an upper park are underway.
The Seoul city government plans to create Seoul Arena as a performance venue specializing in popular music, equipped with advanced sound systems, stage facilities, and seats with excellent visibility. The goal is to provide an environment satisfying both global artists and event producers, thereby growing into a world-renowned cultural and tourism hub with an expected 2.7 million visitors annually.
The virtual idol group PLAVE, a promotional ambassador for Startup Seoul, was also present at the site. PLAVE stated that “Seoul Arena will be a space where K-pop artists can shine even more.”
The Seoul Metropolitan Government explained that once the GTX-C line opens, Chang-dong Station and Nowon Station will become key transportation hubs, linking downtown and Gangnam within 20 minutes and Incheon Airport within an hour. It also plans to provide various cultural experiences by linking them with the Seoul Photography Art Museum, Seoul Robot AI Science Museum, and Jungnangcheon riverside space.
Mayor Oh Se-hoon said, “We will ensure the remaining construction progresses smoothly so that Seoul Arena can establish itself as a global concert mecca.”