Seoul City Opens Up Three Secret Underground Spaces

10/24/2017

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will allow public access to three underground spaces that remained secret to the public until now. They are the Yeouido Underground Bunker, Gyeonghuigung Palace Air-raid Shelter and the Ghost Station in Sinseol-dongThe ‘Yeouido Underground Bunker’ was built in the 1970s and is suspected to have been used as a secret haven by the bodyguards of the president. It carries significance as a historic space from the cold war era. After undergoing precision inspection and safety measures, it will open to the public on October 19, 2017 as an exhibition space.

The underground bunker is situated in an area of 871㎡ as still resembles the original contours. The room that is suspected to have been used by the president includes a restroom and shower room. A sofa was restored to look as close to the original as possible so that visitors can sit on it while the toilet in the restroom has been left untouched. Other areas of the bunker has artwork installed and are also used to display exhibitions. The bunker will be open between 10am and 6pm from Tuesday to Sunday (Closed on Mondays and January 1st) with free admission. 

The ‘Gyeonghuigung Palace Air-raid Shelter’ was equipped with a communication facility to prepare for air raids during the later years of Japanese colonial rule. The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) has installed lighting and sound equipment to reenact the feeling as an air-raid facility during wartime. Footage of bombers and anti-aircraft control is visualized in 3D imagery on the ceiling of the first floor. Real-time photo mosaic media art was reenacted using 20,000 related-images. The second floor stairs is designed in a way that allows visitors to view the entire shelter.
 

The ‘Ghost Station at Sinseol-dong’ was built in 1974 when subway line 1 was created but later became an unused station as the route was readjusted. Civilian access was prohibited over the last 43 years and no map listed the Ghost Station, hence the name Ghost Station. It is a rare station that retains the structure and appearance of a station built in the 1970s and has made an appearance in the music video of EXO and the film Cold Eyes. This is the first time it has been open to the public.

Gyeonghuigung Palace Air-raid Shelter and the Ghost Station in Sinseol-dong will start operation for 20 visitors per session through advanced reservation from October 21 to November 26 on weekends between 12pm and 4pm, four times a day. A mid-to-long term plan will be established next year.
 

Gyeonghuigung Palace Air Raid Shelter

2pm on October 19 (Thu)– 6pm on November 22 (Wed), 2017 Apply at the website of Seoul Museum of History (http://www.museum.seoul.kr) Contact : 82-2-724-0274

Ghost Station at Sinseol-dong

2pm on October 19 (Thu) – 6pm on November 22 (Wed), 2017 Apply at the website of SMG (http://safe.seoul.go.kr/archives/52552?tr_code=sweb) Contact: 82-2-2133-8024, 8022, 8149, 8040

▮ Apply for up to four tickets per person (no duplicate applications allowed); tickets offered on a first-come-first-served basis

▮ Four times a day (12:00pm~4:00pm), 20 visitors per session