Pickleball and K-Pop Performances at Subway Station... Munjeong Station 'Exercise Garden' Opens

[Financial News] The area around Munjeong Station on the Seoul subway has been transformed into a recreational sports space where commuters can enjoy exercise, relaxation, and cultural activities all at once.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 18th that it had opened the 'Munjeong Exercise Garden' as an exercise-specialized 'Fun Station' in the area around Exit 3 of Munjeong Station.
Fun Station is a subway space innovation project by the Seoul Metropolitan Government that integrates exercise, culture, and leisure content into subway stations and surrounding idle spaces. Starting with the 'Runner Station' at Yeouinaru Station in 2024, it has been established at Ttukseom Station, Meokgol Station, and other locations. Runner support spaces have been set up at Gwanghwamun Station, Hoehyeon Station, and World Cup Stadium Station, and the 'K-Culture Station' was recently opened at City Hall Station.
The Munjeong Exercise Garden was created on an L-shaped site measuring 18,772 square meters near Exit 3 of Munjeong Station. It consists of four spaces: a multi-purpose exercise space, an indoor exercise space, a garden-style rest area, and a cultural rest area. Each space is connected by a running track, allowing citizens to enjoy exercise and relaxation together while running or walking.
The multi-purpose exercise space features a multi-purpose court for futsal and basketball, as well as badminton and pickleball courts. A space for stretching and warm-up exercises before and after workouts has also been provided.
The covered indoor exercise space allows visitors to enjoy activities such as table tennis, yoga, and line dancing regardless of the weather. Exercise programs for beginners and club members are offered at various times, including before and after work on weekdays.
A garden-style rest area featuring a small forest and rest facilities has also been created between the exercise spaces. In the future, pop-up exhibitions and garden-related experiential programs such as 'WE GARDEN' and 'Flowerpot Doctor' will also be operated.
Another feature of the Munjeong Exercise Garden is the cultural rest area created in the sunken plaza. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has introduced the 'Connected Live' system here for the first time, broadcasting performances from a concert venue stage to the outdoor space in real time.
A large LED screen measuring 16 meters wide and 4.8 meters high has been installed in the plaza. The plan is to allow people at Munjeong Station to enjoy K-pop performances held at Seoul Arena in Changdong, which is scheduled to open in the first half of next year, in real time. Before Seoul Arena opens, performance videos, sports broadcasts, cultural and artistic content, and local events will be showcased.
The Munjeong Exercise Garden is open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. on weekdays and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. on Saturdays. It is operated by Seoul YMCA. Following a pilot operation last August, inspections of the facilities and operating system have been completed.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to introduce additional Fun Stations reflecting local characteristics at stations such as Sinmokdong station and Mongchontoseong Station within the year.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Seoul City ambassador Shim Ee-deum attended the opening ceremony. After touring the facilities, Mayor Oh tried playing pickleball with Shim.
Mayor Oh stated, "It is important to create a city where every single citizen can walk, run, and move their bodies more often in their daily lives," adding, "We will build 'Seoul, a City of Daily Exercise,' where people naturally move their bodies and maintain their health during their daily routines before work, during lunch breaks, and after work."

[email protected] Seongchorong Reporter