Korean Job Discussion Forums

[superdave]

ok, i have an idea to do some photography in a subway station ... however, all the ones i've been to are the typical dingy stations - ugly and depressing.

however, i've heard that quite a few subway stations have awesome interiors.

anyone wanna give me the heads up on where i can see good subway architecture in seoul????

cheers

david

www.davidsmeaton.com

[waynehead]

If I remember correctly the express bus terminal station is pretty cool.

[Chris Kwon]

Yeouinaru Station looks nice right now because of these posters they put up.

I went to Noksapyeong for the first time today and that's been the most interesting looking subway station so far. In fact I will upload a video from today to myspace video soon and I will post it here so you can have a look.

[drunkenfud]

I agree on Noksapyong. Also, you might want to try the newest station, Paldang. It's located right out in the country, is aboveground, and has the Han river as a backdrop.

[mumblebee]

The massive yellow columns at Hangangjin always seem a bit surreal to me...and it always seems quiet there.

[klipspringer5]

If I remember correctly, Danggogae (northernmost end of line 4) was pretty nice on a sunny day. Above ground, lots of glass, views of the hills all around.

Sometimes I like the dingy ones for atmosphere, especially the ones with long transfer tunnels, like Sindang (line 2/6). Not so good when you're in a hurry though.

In the same vein, Chungjeongro (lines 2 & 5) is tiled in that depressing yellow-green and has a ridiculously long up-and-down transfer with huge amount of empty, unused space, especially later at night. Found that interestingly oppressive and lonely the one time I got off there.

They've just been rebuilding Hoehyeon (line 4, just north of Seoul Station) and Ewha Women's University on Line 2. Not sure if those are completely done, but they either look brand-new or under construction, both of which can be interesting.

I have noticed that a fair number of stations have little art projects, unique wall decorations or color schemes. Can't recall anything truly exceptional, but it's nice to see someone's putting a little effort into it, sometimes. Hyehwa (line 4) actually has a little art gallery in that intermediate space between the exits.

Fake rock to make it feel like you're in a cave at Chungmure (3/4) and Sangwangsimni (5, I think that's the stop), maybe a few other places.

One other thing to look at might be how the stations link to the outside world. A number go up into department stores, e.g. Omokgyo (5), Miasamgeori (4), Myeong-dong (4). Jonggak (1) goes right into an underground shopping area. Hannam (blue-green?) is hard to find by foot, located in between and beneath criss-crossing highways.

But yeah, haven't myself encountered any architectural marvels that I can recall.

[Jeweltone]

Jamsil has quite a bit of character - I especially love the fake Trevi fountain near the Lotte Mart entrance!

There is a large underground shopping mall attached.

[PeteJB]

I like the dead straight stations (long platforms). They are so damn long, have nothing like it back home.

[darkcity]

if you're lookin to do pure modern architecture stuff, anyang is pretty huge. the dingy stuff can look nice though, don't overlook it. can turn out nice if you photograph and post-process the shot right.

[Hobophobic]

YoungdongpoguMarket has fake cave like walls...

[WoBW]

Singuemho, line 5. Cave-like walls on the escalater.

[articulate_ink]

Gyeongbokgung and Anguk are more pleasant than most: bricks instead of drab tiles, sculptures and art objects, etc. I remember some of the Bundang Line stations (Imae, maybe Taepyeong; it's been a while) being dramatic and rather clean. Gyeyang and the Incheon Airport stations are both very attractive: lots of glass and sleekness. But Noksapyeong is by far my favorite. The dome, the atrium, and the Art Deco-ish restrooms are so pleasantly out of sync with the rest of the system it's almost like being in another city.

[mnhnhyouh]

Those on line 7, east of Gasan Digital Complex are very garish, with strange color schemes. Some of them are almost disturbing.

h

[crazy_arcade]

line 7.

[Chris Kwon]