Culture Station Seoul 284

Current Exhibition  RTO 365, 21 Sep 2018 – 29 Dec 2018

RTO 365, which was a military facility, would be the art platform that artists explore, play and communicate with visitiors.
Various forms of art works are presented: performance, videos, literature, etc.

About Culture Station Seoul 284

Culture Station Seoul 284 restored the prototype of old Seoul Station, which was the main stage of Korean modern history in Korea and the gateway of traffic and exchange, and opened in 2011 as a Cultural Complex.

 

As a platform to create and interact with Culture · Art, various programs such as exhibitions, performances, and workshops are held. In 1900, it changed from Namdaemun Station to Gyeongseong Station and Seoul Station to become Culture Station Seoul 284. Meet 100 years of history against time.

Present Modern Sensibility to Gyeongseong Station, Seoul

Korea’s railroad history began with the Gyeongin Line. In 1900, the Gyeongin Line was extended to Namdaemun Station in Seoul, and the woodwork history at that time was called Namdaemun Station, which was the beginning of Gyeongseong Station and the beginning of history.

 

During the three-year construction period from 1922 to 1925, Renaissance architecture was newly built. The new history of the South Manchuria Railways Company has changed its name to Gyeongseong station.

 

With significant scale of the Gyongseong station, the European-style exotic appearance of red bricks, granite floors, artificial walls, and the Betula schmidtii Regel floor made headlines. In particular, the first Luncheon bar “Grill” on the second floor became so popular that it called the Luncheon bar itself a drawing.

Reborn as a Cultural Complex at a Railway Station

In 2004, the old station was closed, and the restoration project was carried out for two years from 2009 to 2011.

 

Based on the photographic data of the time of the construction of Gyungseong station, Inside the station 100 years ago was reproduced. Previously completed in 2011, the Seoul Station is currently used as the Culture Station Seoul 284. 284 is the historical number of the old Seoul Station, indicating the characteristics of Culture Station Seoul 284 combine the history with the art experience.

The Past, the Present, And the Future Coexist

Culture Station Seoul 284 is a historic space with a lot of time and a space that changes as it meets new art. You can enjoy the past, such as Renaissance ornaments, stained glass, and red bricks, as well as experimental and modern works. The singularity that the past, the present, and the future coexist is loved by many people because it shows different exhibits than the existing known art museum.

 

In addition to the exhibition, visit Culture Station Seoul 284 to see the 1925 Gyongseong station. Don’t miss the great opportunity to browse the old Seoul Station 100 years ago.

Culture Station Seoul 284 History

  • 1900 July, Namdaemun Station opening
  • 1905 March 24, Renamed to Namdaemun Station
  • 1915 October 15, Removal of the Namdaemun Station in the existing woodwork, completion and operation of ‘Namdaemun Station’ with new employees,
  •            platforms and facilities
  • 1923 January 01, Renamed to Gyeongseong Station
  •    |
  • 1925 September 30, Gyeongseong Station(Present, Culture Station Seoul284) Completion
  •            October 15, Gyeongseong Station opening
  •            October 25, Luncheon Bar on the second floor of the Gyungseong Station opening (formerly, Seoul station grill)
  • 1936 December 01, Akasuki, Gyeongseong-Busan special express passenger train, taking 6 hours and 45 minutes
  • 1943 November 25, Changed express train from Busan-Beijing to Gyeongseong-Beijing
  • 1947 November 01, Renamed to Seoul Station
  • 1957 December 30, Seoul Station southern station completion
  • 1969 February 14, Seoul Station western station completion
  • 1974 August 15, Seoul Metro Subway (Seooul-Cheongnyangni) Opening
  • 1975 September 18, the National Railroad Administration Western station completion
  •    |
  • 1981 September 25, Seoul Station specified as historic Site No. 284
  • 1988 September 11, Seoul Station Private capital station opening
  • 1993 December 17, Seoul Station culture center opening
  • 1997 April 01, Seoul Station Railroad Museum Seoul Station center opening
  • 2004 KTX high-speed railroad opening and old Seoul Station closed
  • 2007 August, Due to change of construction on the National Railroad Administration, state-owned cultural property (Historic Site No. 284)
  • 2011 April 15, Korean handicraft · Korean Culture and Design Foundation (KCDF) consignment operating
  •            August 08, Completed restoration work
  •            August 09, Culture Station Seoul284 opening

Exhibition Space

Central Hall

Central Hall which surrounded by 12 stone columns and a dome was the primary space of the former Seoul Station. Ticket office, information desk, gift shop, and snack bar were housed in the Central Hall.

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3rd Class Waiting Room

The 3rd Class Waiting Room was once the waiting room for passengers with general-admission tickets. The room was accessible directly from the Seoul Station Plaza.

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1st and 2nd Class Waiting Room

Prior to Korean independence in 1945, there were separate waiting rooms for men and women; this
was the waiting room for men with 1st and 2nd Class tickets.

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Women’s Waiting Room

The Women’s Waiting Room was a separate waiting area reserved for 1st and 2nd Class female travelers. Although it is the smallest of the three waiting rooms, it was the most lavishly decorated.

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VIP Lounge

VIP Lounge was exclusively reserved for the royal representatives to presidents and high-ranking government officials. It is equipped with a separate entrance.

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Spare Room for VIP

A place used as a restaurant and auxiliary space for the entourages who accompanied VIP guests.

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Stationmaster’s Office

Stationmaster’s Office is located with the VIP room since the person in charge of serving any special guests was the station master.

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The Grill

The Grill is the first Western-style restaurant in Korea which opened in 1925. Inside the wiring closet is the food preparing room. The dumbwaiter in the room is the first of its kind in Korea which was connected to the kitchen in the basement.

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Restoration Project Exhibition Hall

The space used as the Barbershop has been converted into exhibition spaces where artifacts and historical material from the former Seoul Station’s restoration are on display.

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West Hallway

The West Hallway allowed people to walk down to the platform. The set of stairs linking the VIP Lounge to the platform are still extant.

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RTO

RTO was the baggage collection area where passengers collect their baggage sent from departing station as they arrive. The name RTO comes from the Railroad Transportation Office because of its usage of the US Army Transportation Corp.

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Direction

  • Address   04509 Culture Station Seoul284, Seoul Station(Headquarter)1, Tongil-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
  • Subway   Line No.1, Line No.4, Airport Railroad, Gyeongui Line(Railroad) Seoul Station Exit 2
  • Bus         Green Bus – 7011, 7017, 7019, 7021, 7022, 8000
  •                   Blue Bus – 103, 163, 202, 405, 421, 500, 505, 506, 603, 702A, 702B
  •                   Red Bus – 9401, 9701, 9703, 9709, 9713, 9714, 9716
  • Car         Not available for parking space. Please use the parking lot near Seoul Station.

Contact

seoul284@kcdf.kr