A power plant that once produced electricity with steam will soon become a venue for the arts.

The Seoul Thermal Power Plant that used to provide electricity to Seoul and neighboring metropolitan areas will complete its mission in 2017 after 87 years of generating energy and become a park and workspace for artists from across the country.

Being newly dubbed the Danginri Creative Art Plant, the old power plant will now "produce arts and culture, instead of electricity," organizers say. With a "creation hub," an "art and culture complex" and elements of the venue's modern industrial legacy all located in the new "art plant," artists and citizens alike will be able to work together on their creative endeavors while facing the artistic challenges that will eventually be served up as a rich dish of arts.



Last May, the pilot Danginri Creative Arts Plant Living Lab project was launched at the old energy plant. Over five days, a total of 113 participants from 43 teams created a variety of art experiments and assured the transformation of the former industrial space into a space brimming with creative energy. The plant will not only offer a place for established artists, but there will also be a chance to discover new artists as the venue will support pure and independent arts.



Along with the "art plant" that will be built in the renovated old power plant, a park will be built over a new power plant that will be underground. The new underground power plant will produce electricity from both coal and LNG, and will also provide an educational space about electricity and energy.

By Chang Iou-chung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Korea Midland Power Co. Ltd,
icchang@korea.kr