The Seoul Metropolitan Government on July 2 said it held a groundbreaking ceremony for the forthcoming K-pop concert facility Seoul Arena in the Chang-dong neighborhood of Seoul’s Dobong-gu District. This is an artist’s rendition of a bird-eye view of Seoul Arena. (Seoul Metropolitan Government)
By Charles Audouin
Construction of Seoul Arena, a complex cultural facility to feature K-pop, has started.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government on July 2 said the groundbreaking ceremony for the venue was held at the building site.
To be built in the Chang-dong neighborhood of the capital’s Dobong-gu District, the arena will be built on land given by the city. The special purpose corporation Seoul Arena Co., which was set up by domestic tech giant Kakao, will build, run and maintain the facility.
Seoul Arena is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2027.
With a floor area of 119,097 square m and two basement and six above-ground floors, the complex will have a K-pop concert hall with a capacity of 28,000 people, mid-size performance venue for 7,000, movie theater and commercial facilities.
Seoul Arena will also have facilities specifically for hosting pop music concerts including architectural acoustics, flexible stage and equipment, and an auditorium whose structure gives the audience a clear view of artists and production companies.
The city government and Kakao in a statement said, “We decided to create a professional performance facility for K-pop, whose venues were lacking despite K-culture’s rise, to promote qualitative growth of domestic performance culture, develop the performing arts ecosystem and boost the global status of K-pop.”
caudouin@korea.kr
