Performances by NCT 127, aespa to mark return of Sampyo site to Seoul's bosom

The floor plan for the One Universe Festival 2023 to be held at Sampyo's newly transformed site in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul, over the weekend [SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT]

Sampyo’s ready-mixed concrete production site in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul, will be temporarily opened to the public on Thursday as a space for cultural and leisure activities.

Seongsu-dong is known as a fashion hub for the young and hip.

K-pop concerts will be held at the newly transformed site following the space opening on Thursday.

Boy band NCT 127 will perform at the venue on Friday.

Over the weekend, the One Universe Festival 2023 will be held, with girl group aespa and U.S. rappers Lil Uzi Vert and Kid Cudi scheduled to perform.

The site in Seongsu-dong used to be Asia’s largest single-production site of concrete before it was demolished in August last year, ending its 45-year history. The space has been fenced in since.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the site will be opened for people to enjoy cultural and leisure activities for the next two years before it begins to develop the area into a “global business district.”

The 22,770-square-meter (5.6 acres) site now has a concert venue, a lawn area and a parking lot.

The 8,500-square-meter space dedicated to concerts will allow both indoor and outdoor performances. The 239-vehicle parking lot will be a free public parking space for people visiting neighboring Seoul Forest and Eungbong Mountain.

The lawn area, 4,880 square meters in area, will be completed by November and serve as a space for people to relax.

“Seongsu-dong is a place where people can experience different forms of cultural trends due to pop-up stores and different popular places,” said Hong Sun-ki, chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Urban Space Planning Division.

“The city government expects that the temporary opening of Sampyo’s site will enhance the quality of people's lives and culture in the area.”

The city government is currently receiving designs for the site from renowned architects to develop it into a global business district. The metropolitan government will decide on a preferred bidder this year and draw up plans for the project.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]