By Do Je-hae
Staff Reporter
Seoul is moving to create the Korean version of Montreal's Underground City, which is the largest subterranean complex in the world connecting shopping malls, apartment buildings, hotels, offices, metro stations and other facilities.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will select two areas for the establishment of an underground complex next August after devising a master plan.
It is the first time that such a concept is being promoted as an urban development policy in Korea."The master plan will include the components of the underground city, while establishing safety standards and guidelines for underground networks," an official with the Seoul Metropolitan Government said. "Subterranean development here has so far been conducted without established standards."
Authorities are aiming to create the underground city by 2020 in two separate areas in the capital. The Seoul Metropolitan Government is seeking proposals for the master plan from private corporations from Friday through Monday.
It is likely that areas that have already been designated for redevelopment will have a good chance of being selected for the project, according to officials.
An underground city is a network of tunnels that connect buildings below street level. These may include office blocks, shopping malls, train and metro stations, theaters and other attractions.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon first mentioned the project during his trip to Japan and Canada in September, after having seen the underground cities in the two countries.
The mayor said that the project would contribute to not only making good use of space, but also resolving traffic congestion.
"It would be a good idea to create an underground city in Seoul," he said, in particular reference to the one in and around downtown Montreal.
With over 32 kilometers of tunnels spread over more than 12 square kilometers, the connected areas in Montreal's Underground City include shopping malls, apartment buildings, hotels, condominiums, banks, offices, museums, universities and seven metro stations. There are more than 120 exterior access points to the underground city.
Underground cities have been important for places located in cold climates. In winter, some 500,000 people use the Montreal Underground City daily.
Many countries, including Argentina, China, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore, have already established them.
Japan has an extensive underground network, with more than 76 underground shopping streets.