An area around Chang-dong in Seoul’s Dobong district will be redeveloped into a global cultural hub and a cluster for the culture and entertainment industry, centered on the 28,000-seat Seoul Arena set to open in the first half of next year.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced the plan at a news briefing at City Hall on April 21. The city aims to draw domestic and overseas visitors to boost the local economy and create jobs by fostering the entertainment industry, positioning Chang-dong as an economic anchor for northeastern Seoul.
“Chang-dong, long seen as the outskirts of Seoul, will be reborn as a stage the world comes to — ‘K-Enter Town, Chang-dong,’” Oh said. “It will be a new engine driving Seoul’s next growth and a starting point for urban competitiveness that brings vitality to northern Seoul.”
The city said the project will build Chang-dong into a place where performances run year-round, where concerts expand into industry and jobs, and where events translate into tourism and spending. Officials said they expect economic effects in the trillions of won, extending beyond ticket sales to lodging, transportation, dining and shopping.
Chang-dong is to be promoted as a “Live Stage” city, with global concerts and exhibitions throughout the year. The city plans to host more than 100 performances annually at Seoul Arena, each drawing about 30,000 people. It also plans to introduce a live-broadcast system, dubbed “Connective Live,” so people outside the venue can watch and share performances in real time.
Oh said the arena’s opening could bring about 2.7 million global tourists to Chang-dong each year, calling it a key driver for Seoul’s push toward an era of 30 million foreign tourists.
The city also plans programs and performances linked to cultural sites in northern Seoul, including the Dongdaemun Design Plaza and the “Dongdaemun K-pop Street,” to spread the project’s impact across the broader northeastern area. Events tied to Seoul’s seasonal Spring Festival are also planned to coincide with the arena’s opening.
Nearby facilities — including the Seoul Museum of Photography, the Seoul Robot and AI Science Museum, and cultural spaces under the elevated structure near Chang-dong Station — are to run exhibitions and hands-on programs on an ongoing basis. A “multi-purpose cultural convention” facility inside the arena complex is planned to host music awards, album showcases and fan meetings.
To encourage spending, the city plans K-culture-themed retail facilities within the district. Working with the privately developed Chang-dong station complex, it plans to support shopping tied to K-fashion and K-beauty, including merchandise. A K-food specialty market is planned for the site of an NH Hanaro Mart.
For underused land near Chang-dong Station and aging commercial areas, the city plans incentives including floor-area ratios of up to 1,300% to bring in commercial uses, tourist accommodations and office space.
The city also plans to attract and nurture culture and entertainment companies. A public-run support facility for popular music will provide assistance for music content production and distribution, targeting smaller agencies and other high-potential firms. Startup space is also planned at the Chang-dong Aurne startup center and the Seed Cube Chang-dong cultural industry complex.
Across the Jungnang Stream in the Sanggye area, the city said it will also seek culture-industry tenants for the Seoul Digital Bio City (S-DBC) under development, allowing performance and entertainment firms alongside bio-related businesses to strengthen links between Chang-dong and Sanggye.
To help visitors handle lodging, leisure and dining within the district, the city plans to expand infrastructure under a “Live City” concept. It plans to add 700 hotel rooms and promote urban homestay businesses using nearby housing. Chang-dong Station is also expected to add “Seoul Arena Station” or “K-Enter Town Station” as an additional name to improve access and brand recognition.
The city put the total budget for the “K-Enter Town, Chang-dong” project at 2.7 trillion won. It said 2 trillion won in private and public capital had been invested through last year, and it plans an additional 700 billion won starting this year.
“The essence of growth and change in northern Seoul, including K-Enter Town, Chang-dong, is improving the quality of life for residents in northern Seoul as well as Seoul’s urban competitiveness,” Oh said. He pledged strong support until the area’s potential becomes competitiveness and change leads to a real narrowing of gaps.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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