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Seoul to build bunker designed for nuclear, chemical defense
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By Park Ung
Shelter in Songpa District aims to reinforce capital’s ability to protect civilians
Seoul will build a shelter for civilians in the southern part of the city, capable of withstanding nuclear, biological and chemical attacks — the first such facility to be constructed by a local government.
The city government said Monday it plans to create the shelter on the third basement level of a public housing complex in Songpa District, as a pilot project to expand civil defense shelters in response to evolving security threats.
The 2,147-square-meter shelter will hold up to 1,020 people and include systems to support life for 14 days in the event of a nuclear, biological or chemical attack.
The facility will include a decontamination area for entry and exit and a mechanical room housing air control and water storage systems. In peacetime, it will serve as a space where residents can exercise.
With an estimated budget of around 3.4 billion won ($2.37 million), the city plans to complete construction of the shelter by 2028. It also aims to expand similar civil defense shelters to other districts, adding protection features against electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attacks.
In addition, the city will reassess existing shelters to ensure they meet adequate survival standards.
The project is part of “Defense Seoul 2030,” a plan launched in March last year in response to shifting global dynamics, including the war in Ukraine and escalating threats from North Korea, underscoring the need for stronger civilian protection measures.
A city report released in February identified North Korea’s long-range artillery, nuclear and chemical weapons, drones and EMP attacks as the main security threats facing the capital.
Although details are unclear, North Korea is believed to possess around 50 nuclear warheads, which it views as central to deterring the superior military forces of South Korea and the United States.
North Korea’s forward units are believed to have around 570 long-range artillery pieces, including 200 240mm rocket launchers capable of firing 4,400 rounds toward the greater capital area, including northern Seoul, in a single barrage.
Pyongyang is also thought to have enhanced its military drone capabilities through combat experience since dispatching personnel to Russia last October to support its war in Ukraine.
To prepare for such threats, Seoul plans to upgrade its civil defense alert system, cutting warning times to just 20 seconds from one to three minutes. The city also plans to develop an anti-drone defense system and build nuclear-resistant shelters in subway stations.
Nationwide, there are approximately 17,000 civil defense shelters, but only a handful are equipped to withstand nuclear attacks. Among roughly 3,000 such shelters in the capital, only the shelter beneath City Hall has nuclear protection capabilities.
Amid the shortage of civilian nuclear shelters, a luxury villa under construction in Seoul’s Seocho District has recently drawn attention for including a private bunker.