Seoul commences redevelopment of Jamsil Olympic Stadium as prelude to potential 2036 Games bid

As part of proposals to bid for the 2036 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has today commenced a major redevelopment of Jamsil Olympic Stadium.

The main venue for the 1988 Summer Olympic and Paralympics, the 70,000-seat stadium in south eastern Seoul will undergo a three-year facelift to be reborn as an urban sports and cultural complex.

Remodelling of the venue, which served as the central stadium for the 10th Asian Games in 1986 and which has been a major concert stage since its completion in 1984, is expected to be finished by the end of 2026.

The main focus of the project is to modernise the interior of the stadium, designed by renowned Korean architect Kim Swoo-geun, in order to prepare for the possibility of the country’s hosting another Olympics.

While the exterior of the stadium, including its symbolic canopy, will be retained in order to preserve its historical value, its running track and some 30,000 grandstand seats will be completely replaced to be made fit to host international competitions, while more than 350 seats will be added to accommodate spectators with disabilities.

Overall seating capacity will be reduced from 65,000 to 60,000, while the renovation will also include the installation of an additional giant screen will be installed in the northern part of the stadium, the expansion of some entrances and the remodelling of the VIP room

The stadium’s surrounding area will also be revitalised under the concept of an urban park.

As part of that goal, concrete decks that currently adjoin the exterior of the stadium will be replaced with a 30-meter-wide pedestrian plaza that will connect the stadium to the Han River and the Tan Stream in southern Seoul.

The renovated stadium will also have a public place where people can visit and work out.

Along with the redevelopment of the stadium, the Jamsil Students’ Gymnasium located in the southeastern part of the complex will be relocated to the southwest. The new gymnasium is set to include pools for swimming and diving.

The remodelling also aims to enhance the stadium’s sustainability. Hydrothermal energy harnessing the power of the Han River will be used to replace 35% of the energy used to air-condition and heat the stadium.

The energy plan will help cut the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 1,450 tons each year and the annual electricity expenditures by 220 million won (US$166,477).

As reported by JoongAng Daily, a Seoul Metropolitan Government spokesperson advised that “the city government will try its best to rebirth the facility as a city landmark and complex for culture and sports that preserves the history as the venue that hosted the Seoul Olympics in 1988.”

The current work on the venue replaces a March 2022 proposal for the surrounding precinct to be expanded with an 11,000-seat arena capable of hosting local sport, esports, live performances and other events.

A 2016 proposal for the precinct included a plan to build a K-Pop Concert Hall on the site of the 1988 Olympics Gymnastics Arena.

2036 Seoul Olympic bid
Last year Seoul Mayor, Oh Se-hoon told the Seoul Olympic Legacy Forum that he would “host another Seoul Olympics” by renovating existing sports facilities.

In March he advised that any bid to host the 2036 Games would not be undertaken with North Korea - unlike an early proposal to bid for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.

Images: Seoul’s Jamsil Olympic Stadium (top, credit: Shutterstock) and the concept for its redevelopment (below, credit: Seoul Metropolitan Government).