Beneath Express Bus Terminal Station, Seoul’s underground landscape unfolds in a maze of shops and services. In this vast network, GOTO Mall stretches 880 meters and houses more than 600 stores. It competes with similar massive centers under Gangnam and Jamsil stations. Clearly, Seoul’s underground malls have become vital commercial hubs in the city’s urban fabric.
Moreover, GOTO Mall offers everything from fashion and flowers to furniture and cosmetics. Shoppers, including foreign tourists, frequent the mall for its affordability and variety. For example, Rachel Chua, a visitor from Malaysia, praised the convenience of Seoul’s integrated subway and shopping layout. She contrasted this with smaller underground setups back home.
Beyond shopping, Seoul’s underground malls serve as an essential extension of daily life. Commuters can grab lunch, collect prescriptions, or visit clinics without exiting the subway system. This practical use of space includes restaurants, dermatology clinics, and pharmacies across stations like Yeoksam, Jongno 3-ga, and Hapjeong.
Additionally, Seoul’s underground malls have embraced uncrewed retail. Convenience stores, document printing booths, and pet supply shops now operate without staff. This automation trend is growing, with 27 such stores active across the city’s subway network as of late 2024.
However, these developments did not emerge overnight. Seoul began tapping into its underground space during the 1970s and 1980s. Back then, high land prices and dense development pushed planners to dig deep. Unlike cities such as New York or Tokyo, which emphasized transit connectivity, Seoul prioritized commercial expansion.
This model now provides critical revenue for subway operators. In a politically sensitive environment, fare hikes often spark public backlash. Therefore, Seoul Metro increasingly relies on leasing commercial space to offset its annual losses. These losses grew to over 724 billion won by the end of 2024.
Yet, despite the commercial benefits, experts warn about growing ground safety concerns. Urban engineering professor Kim Jae-gwan notes that the increased weight from shops may strain soft or unstable soil. This structural pressure may intensify when groundwater flow becomes disrupted during construction or expansion.
At the same time, changes to underground layouts can lead to uneven soil conditions. Some areas may dry out while others oversaturate. This imbalance, according to Kim, poses a long-term risk to ground stability. The rise of Seoul’s underground malls might therefore have unintended consequences.
Indeed, recent events have heightened such fears. On March 24, a sinkhole 20 meters wide opened in Gangdong-gu. It swallowed a car and killed the driver. Similarly, another sinkhole appeared on April 14 near a subway site in Busan. Though no one was injured, the event raised alarms.
Civil engineering professor Park Chang-geun explained that faulty construction often causes such sinkholes. Improper excavation, weak soil stabilization, or poor backfilling can all contribute. He stressed that while underground development is inevitable, it demands strict oversight and professional execution.
Ultimately, Seoul’s underground malls represent both ingenuity and risk. They provide solutions for urban space and transit-linked commerce. Nevertheless, without careful planning, they may compromise ground safety and public trust. City officials now face the challenge of balancing growth with resilience, ensuring safety beneath the surface of everyday life.
