Seoul Station - History

History

The former Seoul Station, named "Gyeongseong Station" started operating in a 33m2 (10 pyeong) wooden building in July 1900 with the extension of the Gyeongin Line north of the Han River. It was originally located near Yeomcheon Bridge and was renamed as "Namdaemun Station" in 1905, due to its proximity to Namdaemun. The Gyeongbu Line opened in 1905, and the Gyeongui Line opened in 1906 - both lines connecting to the station. In 1910, when the original wooden building was demolished and a new train station was erected, the station reverted to the name "Gyeongseong Station," when the name of the city of Seoul changed from Hanseong to Gyeongseong ("Keijo" in Japanese). The construction of the current "Old Seoul Station" began on June 1, 1922 and was finished on September 30, 1925.

The station was renamed "Seoul Station" on November 1, 1947. The station was expanded throughout the post-Korean War era; the Southern Annex of Seoul station was completed on Dec 30, 1957, and the Western Annex was completed on Feb. 14, 1969. In 1975, the Korea National Railroad's office moved from Seoul Station to the new West Annex Office. A raised walkway connecting the Seoul Station and the West Annex was completed on 1977, and Korea's first privately-funded station was erected in 1988 in time for the Seoul Olympics. In 2004, a new terminal adjacent to the existing one was completed to coincide with the introduction of KTX high-speed rail service.