Dongdaemun Stadium
Dongdaemun Stadium was located in downtown Seoul. It was demolished on December 18th, 2007 to make way for the Dongdaemun History and Culture Park.
Before the stadium was built it was the location of Seoul Fortress wall and Hadomateo (a military camp site) in the Jeseon Dynasty. In 1925, as the invasion of Japan’s Imperial Army was in full swing, the castle walls were destroyed to clear way for the stadium. The Japanese army built and opened Gyungsung stadium in 1926 to celebrate the matrimony of the Japanese Crown Prince.
The stadium became the main venue for sports events in the city including the Gyeongseong-Pyongyang inter-city soccer tournament in the 1930s. The stadium included a multi-purpose athletics stadium, a baseball park and other sports facilities
After the liberation from the Japanese colonial rule, the stadium was the location for mass celebrations, as almost 250,000 citizens gathered at the venue on August 15, 1945, to celebrate the liberation. Gyeongseong Stadium was renamed Seoul Stadium and later became know as Dongdaemun Stadium. It was used to host public ceremonies and government led sports event’s to promote sport’s policies. Additional construction was undertaken in 1962 to modernize the two existing venues as well as create a swimming pool, volleyball courts and soft clay tennis courts. Floodlights were added to the baseball venue in 1966 and the athletics venue in 1968 to allow for nighttime sporting events.
After the construction of Jamsil Stadium in 1980, the Dongdaemun Stadium’s function became limited. The baseball field was only used to host college or high school games and the athletic track / football field served as a temporary parking lot and market.
Finally, on December 18th, 2007 the demolition of Dongdaemun Stadium began ending it’s 83 years with the people of Seoul. To see the development that is currently taking place on the old grounds of Dongdaemun Stadium, click here. Also to find out more information and get a map to visit the Dongdaemun Stadium Memorial, click here.
