"The Seoul metropolitan government has a grand vision not only for the northern station area but also for the area around Seoul Station. Starting with the station area development project, we aim to introduce a new look of Seoul Station to citizens through the promotion of railway undergroundization and the medical cooperation redevelopment project."
On the 12th, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the northern station area development project held in Jung-gu, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said this. Hanwha Construction, responsible for the construction, held the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the northern station area development project that morning.
The northern station area development project will involve the construction of large-scale facilities including meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE), offices, hotels, and officetels on a 29,048 square meter railway site in Bonlae-dong 2, Jung-gu. A complex of exhibition, hotel, retail, and office space with a total of five buildings, six underground floors, and 39 above-ground floors, with a total floor area of 337,298 square meters, is planned. The project aims to be completed by 2029.
The Seoul metropolitan government noted that it plans to significantly restructure the complicated and challenging transfer system that has caused inconvenience to citizens. Mayor Oh stated, "By utilizing the large underground space secured through railway undergroundization, we plan to establish a national complex transfer center to create an efficient and convenient transfer system," adding, "Once the complex transfer center is completed, the transfer distance and time between all modes of transportation, including trains, buses, and taxis, will be significantly reduced."
In addition, a linear park (Railway Park) will be created connecting the city center to the Han River without interruption along the existing railway line. From a cultural perspective, development will focus on maintaining the symbolism of Cultural Station 284 (formerly Seoul Station), a national heritage site.
The government plans to gradually proceed with the project to transform the Seoul Station Square into a 'citizen's space' and push for the development of the area above Seoul Station after the railway undergroundization is completed in 2033, aiming to realize the future platform concept by around 2046.
Previously, the northern station area development had been under discussion since 2008 but was temporarily suspended due to the global financial crisis that year and the Board of Audit and Inspection's demands for a re-evaluation of the project's feasibility in 2011. After being re-initiated in 2014, the Hanwha Station Consortium, selected as the preferred bidder, abandoned the project due to low feasibility and conflicts with Korail, leading to a prolonged delay.
Subsequently, in 2018, the Seoul metropolitan government prepared development guidelines to improve project feasibility by reducing the exhibition and convention area and increasing the proportion of residential facilities, which were proposed to the landowner, Korail. In response, a three-way competition was held involving the Hanwha Chemical Consortium (Hanwha Consortium), Samsung C&T Consortium, and Meritz Consortium, and in July 2019, Hanwha was selected as the preferred bidder, allowing the project to be resumed. The Hanwha consortium includes Hanwha Station, Hanwha Chemical, Hanwha Construction, Hanwha Resort, and Hanwha Estate.
At the ceremony, Kim Gil-seong, the head of Jung-gu, Seoul, said, "Despite its status as a national central station, most of the railway land has been left unused for a long time, except for materials and logistics warehouses. It has been pointed out that the elevated rail has caused development gaps between regions," adding, "I expect many changes from this significant development project that has launched today."
Mayor Oh said, "The development of the northern station area is significant as it enhances the status of Seoul Station as a national central station and international gateway and marks the beginning of a major urban transformation to reorganize space. I hope you look forward to the day when the heart of the capital city of Korea, connecting the past and future of Seoul and the world, beats vigorously once again."