Seoul City Transformed Abandoned Oil Depot into a New Cultural Park

Seoul's oil reserves, which have been banned from public access for 41 years are transformed into cultural stock bases for Seoul citizens and opened on the first day of September.
Choi Yoon-jong, head of the Seoul Metropolitan City Blue City, said, "The abandoned Mapo Oil Depot, which stands as a historic icon to Seoul's industrial past was banned for public access and use for more than 40 years and now it will be transformed into a multi-cultural space where festivals, performances and exhibitions are held throughout the year.

The Mapo Oil depot was built to provide a stable supply of oil during the first oil shock triggered by the 1973 Middle East War. Since then, it was classified as a dangerous facility when building the Sangam World Cup Stadium to host the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

The newly constructed complex cultural space is equivalent to 22 soccer fields (area: 142,000 square meters). There is an open space (Cultural Garden, 35,212㎡) in which activities such as performances, marketplaces, and picnics can be held, and six tanks (T1 ~ T6, 10,410㎡) surround the area.

Tanks that used to store gasoline, diesel, bunker C oil, etc., were recycled while kept intact its original form as much as possible as a facility for culture and space.
Old and rusty oil tanks turned into New York's Apple Store-like glass dome (T1), theater (T2), and the space that makes you feel like you are in the woods (T4).
It is about 7 minutes walk from the World Cup Stadium station of Seoul Subway Line 6.

Since its official opening, various cultural events such as the citizens' market and music festival are held. Seoul has already selected 40 teams to run these programs throughout all year.