Seoul has cited military threats from North Korea and global instability as major reasons for the move
South Korean authorities are planning to build the country’s first civilian nuclear bunker beneath a public gym, The Korea Herald reported on Monday. The facility will reportedly be located under a large apartment complex in the capital city of Seoul.
City officials claim the increasing threat of North Korean military aggression has necessitated the project, according to the news outlet. The ongoing Ukraine conflict was also reportedly mentioned as a factor contributing to concerns about future scenarios.
The bomb shelter, which is expected to span more than 2,100 square meters and hold up to 1,020 people, will be constructed on the third basement level of a new residential complex scheduled for completion in 2028, which will reportedly include 16 high-rise buildings and over 1,200 residential units.
The site will be built on the former location of the Seongdong Detention Center in Garak-dong, the news outlet noted.
The bunker will reportedly feature air ventilation, clean water storage, and waste systems designed to support life for two weeks in the event of a nuclear, chemical or biological attack. When not needed for emergencies, it will operate as a public fitness center.
“Because modern threats are different from those in the past, we’re launching this project to expand the role of civil defense shelters,” an unnamed city official told The Korea Herald.
“We hope it will mark a new step toward better protecting citizens and improving Seoul’s security system.”
The announcement comes as tensions between the two Koreas have remained high following a sharp downturn in relations under the previous administration in Seoul.
Despite recent signs of thawing relations, including the mutual silencing of border loudspeakers, South Korea continues to uphold a strong defensive stance toward the North.
Last year, South Korea responded to North Korea’s launch of trash-filled balloons by increasing its military readiness. The action came amid growing frustration in Pyongyang over anti-regime leaflets sent by defectors. At the same time, Seoul intensified joint military exercises with the US, which the North denounced as rehearsals for invasion. In response, Pyongyang carried out multiple missile tests.
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