Seoul Mayor Inspects Subway Stations Amid Heatwave

On the morning of July 12, 2025, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon conducted an on-site inspection of subway stations lacking air conditioning, specifically visiting the above-ground stations of Gunja Station (건대입구역) and Ttukseom Station (뚝섬역). The Seoul Metropolitan Government reported that Mayor Oh arrived at Gunja Station at 9:30 AM to assess the operation of cooling facilities in customer waiting areas.

In total, there are 51 subway stations in Seoul without air conditioning, which includes 25 above-ground stations where air conditioning installation is not feasible and 26 older underground stations. Both Gunja and Ttukseom stations are above-ground. These non-air-conditioned stations currently operate customer waiting areas equipped with cooling facilities and auxiliary cooling devices.

During his visit, Mayor Oh checked the status of the customer waiting area and cooling devices at Gunja Station. He then boarded a train to Ttukseom Station, where he inspected the internal cooling conditions, emergency exit devices, and safety facilities such as CCTV cameras.

At Ttukseom Station, he also reviewed the construction site of the 'Donghaeng Shelter' (동행 쉼터), a customer waiting area designed to provide a comfortable space for citizens to wait for the subway or take a break. This facility will feature heating and cooling systems, wireless charging stations, and air purification systems.

The city plans to expand the number of customer waiting areas at non-air-conditioned above-ground stations from 14 to 33 by adding four more 'Donghaeng Shelters' at four different stations by August. Mayor Oh emphasized the importance of improving the environment of aging underground stations and expanding the 'Donghaeng Shelter' concept at above-ground stations to alleviate discomfort for citizens who rely on the subway as a vital mode of transportation.