Built in 1978, the underground passageway that countless Yonsei University students used daily to cross the broad Seongsanro, the road that stands between the campus and Sinchon, became more or less abandoned when a pedestrian crossing was created above ground in 2014.

Last year, Seoul Metropolitan Government and Yonsei University decided to breathe new life into the obsolete space, taking ideas suggested by Yonsei students. On July 24, the 54-by-7-meter underground space reopened after some four months of construction, with the forgotten passageway transformed into a brightly lit space with a studio, offices and a cafe open to everyone.

The renovated space includes the Seoul Start-up Cafe, which provides office space and mentoring programs for student entrepreneurs, and the Play and Relay center, which can host small performances and serve as a studio for aspiring musicians. There are also seminar rooms for rent and an indoor stage which can be used for plays and exhibitions.

“There aren’t as many concert halls in Sinchon as there are in Hongdae,” said Park Hye-soo, the Yonsei University student organization president, who attended the center’s opening ceremony on July 24. He was comparing his university’s neighborhood and the nearby Hongik University neighborhood known for its indie scene.

“We’re hoping this (center) will give students a space to enjoy cultural and creative activities,” Park said.

For now, the bulk of those booking the rooms are students at nearby colleges, which include Ewha Womans University and Sogang University, according to Kim Joo-hee, who manages the Play and Relay center. Some IT research groups and cultural organizations have also made reservations. A busking performance took place there a few days ago.

“A group of 10 or so people came to enjoy the music. A guitar lesson was taking place in the adjacent seminar room,” she said. 

Repurposing the narrow 368 square meter space required economical thinking and careful design, according to architect Kim Hyo-young, who, together with Kim Kwang-soo of the architecture firm Curtain Hall, designed the space.

“We decided to divide the long hall into several compartments,” said Kim. “We left a corridor on the side so it would connect all the rooms.”

On the outside, Kim and his associates created wide, gentle steps that connect naturally to the ground level. Glass doors were installed to give the illusion of open space.

Jo Min-soo, a university student planning a tech start-up business, reserved space at the cafe on Friday evening for a brainstorming session with his three partners.

“I heard about (the center) and decided to try coming here,” he said. “It seems convenient and efficiently designed. It just opened, so they need to add trash cans and other small things, but I hope it thrives.”

Seodaemun-gu Office, in collaboration with artist associations and local organizations, plans to host a variety of activities there, a district official said. Open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. to all visitors, the center will hold indie film screenings, small-scale concerts and lectures.

Letting locals take charge

Old places are enjoying newfound attention in the densely populated capital. Another example is the Seoul Metropolitan Government-led initiative aimed at reviving Sewoon Shopping Mall.

Over the years, business in the mall, which was built in 1968, declined and by the 1990s, the country’s first commercial complex became dilapidated, an eye sore in the middle of a busy business area. 

After a number of unsuccessful attempts at renovation, the city announced on July 20 that it would take ideas from local residents to revive the mall and its surroundings. The public was invited to submit plans for boosting the neighborhood’s commerce, culture, tourism or local community until Aug. 8. Those who submitted the winning project -- results are to be announced Aug. 16 -- will be able to take charge of the plan’s implementation using city government funds, making for a “resident-led redevelopment.”

This inclusive approach aims to stimulate the community spirit and renovate the area in a way “that satisfies the people most impacted,” said a Seoul City official involved in the Sewoon project.

“In the past, urban redevelopment was government-led. It was about tearing down and rebuilding,” said the official. “Now, it’s about preserving what is there and tweaking it.”

‘Old’ is the new ‘new’

The concept of “repurposing” is also catching on with private storeowners. 

New tenants in old neighborhoods are taking advantage of dilapidated sites by adding just a few new touches to these places rather than carrying out large-scale reconstruction. The results are “stylishly derelict” venues.

One neighborhood that is on the rise and being labeled the “Brooklyn of Seoul” is Seongsu-dong, which borders the Hangang River. An industrial complex built in the 1960s, the neighborhood today is home to a throng of small-scale shoe factories. Its transformation began in 2011 when its landmark Daelim Changgo storage unit was reborn as a fashion show and exhibition hall.

Now, the factory buildings are still there, but the spaces inside are being converted into galleries, cafes and chic restaurants. K-pop group Big Bang is currently hosting its art exhibition at S-Factory, a warehouse-turned-art space that has preserved its industrial vibe.

By Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com)