There was empty space under the most famous square of the South Korean capital
In the capital of South Korea, a huge mysterious tunnel was shown to the public for the first time. In Seoul, there's a 3,000 square meter empty space underneath one of Seoul's most iconic squares, and no one (not even city officials) can be sure what it means.
“If you look in the right place, under the bustling streets in the heart of Seoul, you will come across something unexpected: stalactites, “ writes a Seoul correspondent for The Guardian. – They hang ominously from the damp ceiling, testament to the passage of time and decades of neglect.
These mineral deposits are gathered beneath Seoul Plaza, probably one of South Korea's most famous venues, known for hosting everything from protests before concerts, in a huge mysterious underground tunnel, the purpose of which even the city authorities are not sure of.”
The tunnel, which stretches for 335 meters and covers an impressive area of 3,000 square meters, remained hidden for decades, until now. Public tours of this urban wonder are being offered for the first time and for a limited time, writes The Guardian.
Wearing a respirator, a protective helmet and shoe covers, we enter through the back door into the now-destroyed toy library in the underground arcade and find ourselves in complete darkness, says The Guardian correspondent. Every few minutes you can hear the rumbling of the 2nd metro line below.
The tunnel is located just 13 meters under Seoul Plaza, under the city's first underground shopping mall, between Euljiro 1-ga and City Hall stations.
One of the tour participants, Lee, describes the experience as &ldquo “a little scary,” mentioning that he had passed by this place many times before, unaware that it held a secret. “I hope that whatever this place becomes, visitors will be able to experience the history of the city,” he says.
It is easy to assume that this room served as an air defense bunker, which is not uncommon in South Korea, given the country's proximity to North Korea. But its original purpose is unknown, notes The Guardian. City officials believe it may have been built to connect two subway stations, but was never used.
The one-hour tour provides insight into the city's planning history, including construction of the Seoul Subway, which began in the early 1970s. .
The tour guide explains that the construction of Line 2 involved excavation from the surface rather than using the more modern tunnel boring methods of today. When Euljiro 1-ga Station opened in 1983, this unused space was supposedly created, covered up and left untouched for over 40 years.
The opening of this hidden space is part of an urban project to transform Seoul's subway stations to city attractions. Citizens will now have until mid-October to submit proposals on how to use it.
Hong Sung-ki, head of Seoul's Future Urban Space Planning Bureau, describes the tour as “an opportunity to learn about the city's hidden histories” and explore a space “you never could have imagined.”
“It also begged the question: what other hidden secrets might the city hold?” – notes The Guardian.