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| This photo shows the interior of the Gyeonghui Palace Air-Raid Shelter in central Seoul, built by the Japanese toward the end of World War II in 1944. It will be open to public on weekends beginning Saturday. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
Citizens can now access underground bunker, palace shelter, ghost station
By You Soo-sun
Beneath Seoul, there are places that have for decades been hidden from the public. Beginning Thursday, the mysteries and histories of these places ― the Yeouido Secret Underground Bunker, Gyeonghui Palace Air-Raid Shelter, Sinseol-dong Ghost Station ― will be unveiled.
The Yeouido bunker, rebranded as the "Seoul Museum of Art," was accidentally uncovered in 2005 under a bus transfer station. People entering it found a luxurious sofa, bathroom and shower room inside the bunker. The space is speculated to have been constructed as a secret facility used to protect then-President Park Chung-hee in the 1970s. Exact details remain unknown.
The mysterious 871-square-meter bunker has been renovated into a gallery, exhibiting its historical background along with other art installations while preserving its round shape and tile floors.
A key box and toilet have been preserved and are on display; visitors may sit on a sofa made to look like the original. The gallery will be open to the public at no fee every Tuesday to Sunday, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The Gyeonghui Palace Air-Raid Shelter, located in a corner of the Seoul History Museum parking lot, will be revealed Saturday. Built by the Japanese in preparation for possible air raids toward the end of World War II in 1944, it has a 3-meter-thick and 8.5-meter-tall outer wall capable of withstanding bombs.
Inside, there are 10 small rooms and an underground space stretching over 100 meters. Lights and sounds recreate the dark atmosphere of the period ― on the first floor, visitors may find scenes of bombings and anti-aircraft warfare projected against the ceiling in 3D.
Finally, the Sinseol-dong Ghost Station opened Thursday after over 30 years of no public access. Originally built as part of a subway route in Seoul, it was shut down in the process of rerouting the subway line.
A sign that reads, "11-3 Sinseol-dong" is the only remaining vestige, and for years it stayed out of public sight, its existence was even left off of the map. Its eerie atmosphere has recently made it a popular site for movies and music videos including that of the K-pop boy group Exo.
Those who wish to visit the Gyeonghui Palace Air-Raid Shelter and the Sinseol-dong Ghost Station need to make reservations at http://www.museum.seoul.kr and http://safe.seoul.go.kr respectively before Nov. 26.
All of these places are part of the Seoul city government's urban rejuvenation project. An opening ceremony was held Thursday morning at the Yeouido Hidden Underground Bunker, where Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon gathered with artists and citizens.
"Through a rejuvenation of the city, locations which were once forgotten and inaccessible are now open to the citizens," Mayor Park said. "The bunker is especially one of great historical significance ― it has been transformed into a cultural space, which I hope many will come to enjoy. We will also work toward making the air-raid shelter and ghost platform accessible to citizens."
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