The Nambu Terminal area in Seoul's Seocho-gu will be transformed from a transportation hub into a mixed-use urban center, as city officials seek to revitalize the aging facility and its surroundings.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to integrate a one-kilometer radius around the terminal into a single living zone and develop it as a key axis of the city's southeastern region.
The city announced Thursday that it has prepared a basic plan based on a research project titled "Integrated Strategy and Implementation Plan for the Revitalization of the Nambu Terminal Area." The plan goes beyond renovating a single facility, outlining a mid- to long-term urban restructuring strategy that organically connects the terminal with its surrounding areas.
At the heart of the plan is a fundamental restructuring of the terminal itself. Transportation functions will be relocated underground, while the ground level will be developed as a mixed-use space combining office, tourist accommodation, cultural and residential functions. The city aims to secure business viability through this approach and attract private-sector developers to drive the project forward. When private developers propose development plans, the city will pursue the project through consultations based on this framework.
As a mid- to long-term project, the plan will be implemented in phases, taking into account priorities and financial conditions. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will strengthen coordination among relevant departments to enhance connections between projects and develop funding strategies.
In the short term, the city will simultaneously improve the surrounding environment to deliver tangible changes. Nambu Terminal Station will be gradually transformed into a cultural space in conjunction with the mixed-use development, while aging pedestrian walkways in the area will be upgraded to enhance walkability and accessibility. The plan also includes strengthening links with the Seocho Music and Culture District, featuring specialized design elements such as a musical instrument street to leverage local content.
Built as a temporary structure in the 1990s, Nambu Terminal has been in operation for more than 30 years, with persistent concerns over aging facilities and cramped space. The terminal has been assessed as weakened in its role as a transportation hub due to poor connectivity with the nearby Nambu Terminal Station on Subway Line 3 and underutilized space within the station. While development discussions have taken place, the project has drifted amid disagreements over density, land use and business viability, remaining a long-standing challenge for the city.
"This integrated plan is significant in that it views Nambu Terminal and its surrounding areas not as individual projects but as one organic space, presenting a comprehensive development direction," said Kim Yong-hak, Director General of Future Space Planning. "Based on this plan, we will foster the Nambu Terminal area as a new hub for the southeastern region."
