South Korean authorities are planning to build the country’s first civilian nuclear bunker under a public gymnasium, the Korea Herald reported on Monday. The facility will reportedly be located beneath a large apartment complex in the capital, Seoul.
According to the report, city officials claim the project was necessitated by the growing threat of North Korean military invasion. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine was also reportedly mentioned as a factor contributing to concerns about future scenarios.
The air raid shelter is expected to have an area of more than 2,100 square meters and can accommodate up to 1,020 people, and will be built on the third basement level of a new housing complex, scheduled to be completed in 2028, which will reportedly include 16 high-rise buildings and more than 1,200 residential units.
According to the news agency, the site will be built on the site of the former Seongdong Detention Center in Garak-dong.
The bunker reportedly has ventilation, clean water storage, and a disposal system designed to sustain life for two weeks in the event of a nuclear, chemical, or biological attack. It will operate as a public fitness center except for emergencies.
MNA/